KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 – During a parliamentary session today, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli addressed misconceptions regarding efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty in Malaysia, emphasizing that eliminating extreme poverty does not imply the absence of poor individuals in the country. Responding to queries from opposition lawmakers, Rafizi clarified that the terms “hardcore poverty” and “poor” denote distinct levels of economic hardship, with the former referring to a specific threshold determined annually by official reports.
He underscored that setting targets for poverty alleviation funding is based on the number of individuals classified as extremely poor each year, reiterating that poverty is relative and fluctuates over time. Rafizi’s remarks aimed to dispel confusion surrounding government initiatives and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s calls to eradicate hardcore poverty, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address economic challenges comprehensively.
