PUTRAJAYA: The government is committed to helping groups of people who are severely affected by the pandemic by focusing on different ways to address poverty.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Covid-19 pandemic caused a major blow to society and that it could possibly have changed the percentage of the different income groups in the country.
"I believe the Bottom 40 or B40 household has increased to B50, and I believe there is a dip of 10 per cent of households in the Top 20 (T20) category.
"This is a problem, I must admit. And it is not because of my doing, but due to the problems troubling the country.
"That is why we are focused on helping groups of people severely affected by the pandemic."
Muhyiddin said this in a special interview with senior news editors at his house on Friday.
The interview was held in conjunction with Perikatan Nasional's one year anniversary in administration. The New Straits Times was represented by senior news editor Faridul Anwar Farinordin at the interview.
He said previously, poverty in rural areas was more significant as those residing in urban areas earned more income.
This, however, changed when people living in the urban areas were impacted due to the inability to pay for their living costs, he added.
"In fact, almost 52 per cent of poverty is detected in urban areas. Some of them may have been overlooked as the data in the present system is not updated.
"Hence, we need to update it (the system). We are also looking into ways to help the economy recover while managing the pandemic at the same time," he said.
He also said he had instructed ministries to give greater emphasis and focus on matters pertaining to the wellbeing of the people, the economy, and trade.
On the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), Muhyiddin said he hoped more people would come forward to get themselves vaccinated.
He said he was aware that there were quarters spreading rumours and creating fear among the people, preventing them from coming forward.
"To these people, I want to stress that all the government is doing at the moment is to help you. There is no reason to reject 'rezeki' (God's blessings).
"I have received my first dose of the vaccine and I am looking forward to get the second dose to complete my vaccination process. By getting vaccinated, I know my body is producing antibodies to protect me against the virus," he said.
He hoped the NIP would be well-received among the people and the government had mobilised all machineries including non-governmental organiations, community leaders, village heads and Rukun Tetangga to achive this.