KOTA BARU: Seven districts in the state have been identified as among the 28 poorest in the country due to a lack of crucial infrastructures.
Deputy Rural Development Minister R. Sivarasa said the seven districts are Tumpat, Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas and Pasir Putih.
“We (the ministry) have identified seven districts in Kelantan as among the 28 poorest areas in the country. These areas among others, do not even have water treatment facilities.
"I will make a four-day working visit to the state to identify the overall factors that have led to these districts being listed as among the poorest.
“On the first day of my first, I will focus on four parliamentary seats (Jeli, Tanah Merah, Tumpat and Pasir Mas) to look at the villages that are facing such (infrastructural) problems, apart from gathering information from the grassroots on other issues,” he told a media conference after launching the state-level Kemas Potential Day here today.
Sivarasa said during the four-day visit, he would also be given a briefing by Universiti Malaysia Kelantan's research and poverty management unit.
“Basically, infrastructure problems including the lack of clean water supply and roads are the main factors in rural areas, such as in Jeli, where people are still using water from the hills.
“I will look into this issues throughly and how the government can help locals to solve these issues,” he said.
Sivarasa also said he would pay a courtesy call to Deputy Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on Monday.