DPM: Country has achieved target of wiping out poverty

By Bernama

PAGOH, Dec 18 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today the country has met the target of eradicating abject poverty this year following proactive action taken by the government to assist the affected group.

He said that based on the latest report received through the Government Transformation Programme on poverty, the achievement had been very encouraging.

“Although in this matter, the abject poor group can be said to be dynamic, not static, if the figure is zero today, maybe tomorrow there will be one or two entering the group due to sickness and so on. But in terms of actual measurement, we have met the target, and this is most encouraging,” he said after attending a poverty eradication programme “End the Poverty Era” organised by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development at the Muar district level here.

Muhyiddin (picture), who is also education minister, said although poverty could be eradicated, the government’s agenda to continue to eradicate poverty was ongoing by expanding various training and guidance programmes to raise the income of the poor.

He said the government hoped to produce more micro entrepreneurs among women with the number of such entrepreneurs now standing at about 4,000 throughout the country.

Earlier, he urged the hardcore poor to strive to generate their own income to raise their standard of living instead of being complacent and relying on government assistance. — Bernama