Minister declares KL free of hardcore poor

By Bernama

Kuala Lumpur has been declared hardcore poverty-free.

Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the number of poor and vulnerable people in the capital had been reduced by at least 50 per cent from a year ago.

He said from next year, the government would increase aid to target groups through programmes such as home sales, education aid and funeral care scheme.

“Under the urban well-being element, we have provided small business skills training for the poor,” he told reporters after launching of the inaugural World Congress on Infrastructure Asset Management here today.

Raja Nong Chik said efforts to completely overcome poverty and the vulnerable in the urban areas would take time in view of the dynamic population.

“We will continue to help the hardcore poor. The poor may be out of the doldrums but they could fall back into the pit again due to insufficient assistance. To say that we can eradicate hardcore poverty 100 per cent is difficult,” he said. — Bernama