TANJONG MALIM, October 8 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the Madani Government’s commitment to eradicating poverty by ensuring that assistance effectively reaches the intended groups. Speaking at the 100 Years of Za’ba Poverty Thinker Seminar at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Anwar highlighted the need for better governance and transparency in managing poverty eradication programmes, as some government agencies still face issues that hinder aid distribution.
Anwar emphasized the importance of addressing deeper causes of poverty, including market distortions caused by middlemen, which exploit producers like fishermen. He noted that while the government spends RM22 billion annually on poverty eradication efforts, a more comprehensive and transparent approach could significantly improve the situation. He called for a renewed national resolve to tackle poverty holistically, following the intellectual legacy of scholars such as the late Tan Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad (Za’ba).
