Over 3,600 families in Melaka now under hardcore poor category, says CM

MELAKA: A total of 3,633 households in the state are now under the hardcore poor category according to an official data, says Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

He said the number of hardcore poor households in the state had increased after the Federal Government revised its national poor household income average used to measure poverty known as the Poverty Line Income (PLI) from RM980 to RM2,208 in July 2020.

"The revision in PLI has caused the number of hardcore poor in the state to increase to the latest figure that was updated in December last year," he said after handing over RM500 aid to 40 heads of households from the hardcore poor category at Masjid Tanah here on Sunday (Jan 9).

Sulaiman said the state government has set a targeted approach to eradicate hardcore poverty under a five-year plan.

He said the strategies will be outlined based on the economical landscape of a particular locality.

"We have to put in place short- and long-term policies to drive our economy that will also benefit the locals," he said.

Sulaiman added that the state government will also continue to enhance Melaka's position as a high-end investment destination and improve the marketability of the local workforce to meet industry demands.

More to come