HULU SELANGOR, May 1 — The Selangor government aims to eradicate hardcore poverty in the state by July, says Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said this is based on a briefing from the Selangor Development Action Council, which recorded a total of 861 families still in the hardcore poor category.
He said the State Economic Planning Unit has been instructed to disburse surplus funds from the Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selangor (Bingkas), involving a monthly assistance of RM300, to the affected groups.
“There are some of them who only need an additional RM17 a month to get out of the poverty group.
“So, I believe that providing the RM300 assistance, combined with zakat assistance— because among the list of hardcore poor, we have over 500 Malay community members — we will be able to address the issue,” he said when met at the Batang Kali youth Aidilfitri celebration, here, last night.
Commenting on the issue of Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli being summoned to provide his statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday to assist in the investigation into allegations of abuse of power, Amirudin hoped it would not become a campaign issue in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“Let the MACC carry out its duties. We (Pakatan Harapan) don’t want to gain political mileage from our opponents’ misfortunes.
“What Harapan wants to highlight is our achievements, particularly the contributions of the late (incumbent Kuala Kubu Baharu assemblyman) Lee Kee Hiong, as well as the plans that our candidate Pang Sock Tao have.
“This is in addition to our strong support for state welfare and development programmes,” said the Keadilan vice president.
The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election sees a four-cornered contest involving Pang (Harapan), Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Nyau Ke Xin (independent).
It was triggered following the death of Lee, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.
The Election Commission has set polling for May 11, while early voting takes place on May 7.
— Bernama
