KUCHING: The Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, is confident that the target of alleviating 4,918 miskin tegar (MT) or hardcore poor communities can be achieved by December this year.
Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this confidence is based on the establishment of the Welfare Target Group (Focus Group) at the KPWK level and the People’s Welfare Task Force according to zones.
Based on eKasih data as of June 1, 2024, she said there are 12,853 Heads of Household (KIR) in Sarawak listed under the MT category.
“Out of these 12,853 HoH, 7,935 hardcore poor (national target) have been identified and efforts are underway to lift them out of this category by July 31, 2024.
“At the state level, KPWK aims to reduce the number of MT by 4,918 HoH by December this year.”
She said this during a press conference after chairing the Sarawak Hardcore Poverty Eradication Meeting at Baitulmakmur II Building here on Tuesday (June 25).
Fatimah further explained that her ministry is reviewing individuals in the eKasih system and conducting verification processes to confirm their status, whether they are still alive or deceased.
“If the individual has passed away, they will be removed from the MT list.
“For those still alive, income verification will be conducted to determine whether their income still falls below the poverty line,” she said.
