PAPAR: The number of hardcore poor households in the state has dropped significantly by almost 80 per cent to 5,379 from 22,510 previously, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said.
The four-fold decrease, said Hajiji, was achieved through an aggressive approach rolled out by the state government to eradicate hardcore poverty in Sabah.
He added that through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat, the government offers suitable employment opportunities to heads of households (KIR) or members of hardcore poor families, in collaboration with several government agencies and private companies.
"The state government is committed to lifting them out of poverty.
"God willing, this aggressive approach will continue to be implemented to put an end to the issue of hardcore poverty in Sabah, God willing," he said at the launching of the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration ceremony for 1446H/2024M at the Papar Community Hall here.
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin officiated the event.
On May 31, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had given a timeline to Sabah to eradicate poverty by the end of July. (link: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1057670/updated-pm-wants-hard...)
Hajiji expressed hope that the new Hijrah year and Maal Hijrah celebration will further ignite the fighting spirit and ambitions of all Muslims.
"Not only in pursuing dreams and hopes but also in shouldering the responsibilities entrusted to us as members of society, especially as members of the public service who play a role in driving and implementing state and national development programmes," he said.