KOTA KINABALU: The number of hardcore poor families has decreased, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah Women's Chief Datuk Azizah Dun.
Based on the state Development office's ongoing data updating exercise, the number of hardcore poor household heads is 13,179 as of last month.
"This figure has decreased compared to 22,510 hardcore poor household heads last year.
"The data cleansing process is still ongoing statewide. Our efforts will not cease until we successfully eradicate hardcore poverty," she said in a statement.
Azizah added that they have assigned Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat (SMJ) to reduce the hardcore poverty rate through various efforts and initiatives.
"Among the efforts undertaken by the SMJ include providing 1,500 houses annually as an initiative to assist the less privileged, providing business capital assistance to those in need, and providing employment opportunities to local youth.
"Poverty is a legacy inherited from previous administrations. This is a reality that must be accepted.
"Therefore, eradicating poverty cannot be achieved overnight. We need to accept this. Hence, the effort to eradicate poverty will always remain a top priority for the government."
The former federal minister also said statistics from the Statistics Department (DOSM) showed that the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in Sabah has increased from 1.5 per cent in 2021 to 3.7 per cent in 2022 under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government.
So, this shows that the development rate has increased since GRS took over the government.
"Moreover, the government has not only endeavoured to address poverty issues but also to boost development, especially in attracting more investors to the state, besides exploring new resources through the Blue Economy."