BANGI: Community leaders, non-governmental groups and individuals, private entities as well as government-linked companies must collaborate in efforts to effectively eliminate poverty.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the responsibility of ending absolute poverty should not be placed on the shoulders of the government alone.
"We must all be responsible to work together in ending it.
"The vulnerable and fragile bottom 40 (B40) group in need of assistance must be supported so they can break free from the shackles of poverty," said Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister.
His speech was read by the ministry's political secretary, Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii, at the Eradicating Poverty Congress: The Role of the Third Sector here, today.
He added that Anwar, during his 2023 Budget speech, had advocated for the fair distribution and focus of the country's wealth towards the lower-income and middle-income (M40) groups.
"He (Anwar) had said the top 20 (T20) group controls 47 per cent of the total household income, and also holds 80 per cent of the total savings in the Employees' Provident Fund.
"Taking into account the factor of the country's concentrated wealth among the upper class or affluent elites, Anwar had advocated for the fair distribution of wealth towards the B40 and M40 groups."
The government had also implemented several initiatives to address poverty in the country, added Zahid, including the People's Income Initiative, the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, and the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, among others.
"Under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, I have proposed the need for a national cooperatives movement to operate collectively through a federation to improve the economy and wellbeing of the people."
Meanwhile, the congress accepted a four-point resolution highlighting the role of the third sector in eradicating absolute poverty in Malaysia.
The four dimensions are establishing the third sector as a partner in ending poverty; have data-driven initiatives, smart government partnerships, and third sector-sharing initiatives; collaboration among stakeholders in the agenda to eradicate poverty; and the impact of eradicating poverty through sustainable funding.
