Some five localities in Perak have been chosen for the implementation of the first phase of the Keluarga Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme (BMTKM).
BMTKM will be carried out in phases involving 1,000 localities in Malaysia.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Economic Affairs, Dato’ Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the first phase was piloted in June in 80 localities nationwide.
It involves about 3,000 hardcore poor heads of households (KIRs), including eight localities which involve Orang Asli villages (KOA).
“The first phase in Perak is Kampung Batu 3 Segari, Manjung District; Kampung Batu 14, Kerian District; Kampung Kuak Hulu, Hulu Perak District; Orang Asli Kabel Village, RPS Banun, Hulu District, Perak, Orang Asli Village Post Enemy Landing Zone, District Batang Padang and Pos Musuh Landing Zone Orang Asli Villages,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that five income boost programmes involving 66 hardcore poor KIRs have been qualified for implementation in groups.
Among them are honey and mushroom bamboo cultivation, Kelulut (stingless bee) honey enterprise, as well as bamboo-based product projects.
“This programme is expected to boost the income of participants within two months,” he said.
He added that based on data from the National Poverty Data Bank (eKasih) until May 31, there were 8,025 hardcore poor KIRs in Perak, which is the sixth highest compared to other states.
“The federal government is committed to bridging the income gap and addressing development inequalities between provinces and states.
“On the same day, I also visited several development and social projects implemented by the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) in Lata Kinjang, here,” he added.
Referring to the programme, the government is targeting a zero hardcore poor rate by the end of 2025.
The Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) under the JPM which has been entrusted by the prime minister to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of BMTKM.
Earlier, in a ceremony, he witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) and the Lata Kinjang Berhad Orang Asli Cooperative (KOALKB).
Mustapa said through the cooperation, NCIA will guide and prepare KOALKB to build the capacity of the Orang Asli community in Lata Kinjang as a pilot project to eradicate poverty among the orang asli.
Rosli
