KOTA KINABALU: Sabah managed to reach its target of eliminating hardcore poverty in July, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He announced the achievement when launching a padi cultivation pilot project in northern Kota Marudu district on Tuesday (Aug 13).
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"Thanks to the commitment from all, in line with the aspirations of the Madani government and Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan 1.0 (2021-2025), I wish to announce we succeeded in eliminating the hardcore poverty level on the locked figure list on July 31," he said.
He added that cooperation from government-linked companies (GLCs) like Sawit Kinabalu helped the state government in its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
"I hope the GLCs will continue to provide job opportunities to our youths.
“This will help the state government, through the SMJ secretariat and Sabah Development Office, in endeavours to eliminate poverty," Hajiji said.
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During the closing of the state’s Kaamatan festival in May, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government’s top priority was ending hardcore poverty in Sabah, setting the target for the end of July.
The issue of hardcore poverty in Sabah, he said, was far more serious than in other states such as Penang and Selangor.
As such, he added, cooperation between the federal and state governments needed to be strengthened to solve the problem.
