SHAH ALAM: Selangor state government has increased allocation for its poverty alleviation schemes from RM70 million to RM100 million in its 2015 budget in an intensified effort to reduce poverty rate in the state which stood at 30 per cent as of this year.
Under the new budget, the Selangor microcredit scheme (SkimSel) would receive a boost from RM40 million to RM60 million while the allocation for the Urban poor microcredit scheme (MiMBAR) would be increased by another RM10 million.
Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali who read the state budget speech during the state assembly today, said Selangor, being the most developed state in the country, did not subscribe the national poverty line at RM830 as it would statistically put only 0.4 per cent households in a state of poverty.
“Selangor has set poverty line at RM1, 500 and under this criteria, we found that more than 30 per cent of Selangor residents belong to this category.
“With that, the state government needs to intervene and we have decided to increase the allocation for poverty alleviation programmes.
“All of the programmes would be put under the same umbrella which we call the ‘Hijrah’ initiative that aims to alleviate those afflicted by poverty and navigate their path to enter into middle-income,” he said.
Azmin added that the state government, through its investment bodies, would increase efforts to provide more job opportunities to its citizens by supporting the growth of new industries and providing avenues for new businesses to develop in the state.
“Among the industries that have benefitted includes manufacturing, real estate, logistics, health services, hotels and food and services. We believe that by helping the growth of these industries, the state would see a multiplying effect that would uplift the citizens.
“As of date, more than 9, 659 job opportunities have been created for Selangor citizens as the state continues to receive and approve projects amounting to RM4.58 billion for this year alone. Of that figure, more than RM2.7 billion or 59 per cent was invested by locals and the rest RM1.8 billion or 41 per cent was foreign investment,” he said.