Ex-UN special rapporteur praises M'sia for 'bringing poverty line closer to reality'

Former United Nation's special rapporteur Philip Alston.

KUALA LUMPUR: A former United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights has commended the Malaysian government for being courageous in bringing its poverty line nearer to reality.

Philip Alston said the line announced was more than double the previous one and resulted in an official poverty rate 14 times higher than previously acknowledged.