Sabah has reported a significant drop in extreme poverty in the last nine months.

Since the establishment of the SMJ Secretariat to deal with the problem in September last year, a task force has identified 13 indicators to validate the extreme poverty status and assigned aid distribution.

The secretariat has sourced their data from the e-Kasih list under the National Poverty Data Bank System.

Among the indicators include setting the income threshold for hardcore poverty household of RM1,218.

A total of 17,131 households have been excluded from the extreme poverty cases from 22,510 households previously as a result of the taskforce’s screening fieldwork.

Here are the key stats:
Key Data on Heads of Households (KIR)
Initial Data: 22,510 Heads of Households and 94,315 Household Members.
Updated Data: 5,379 Heads of Households, a 76.1% decrease as of June 30, 2024

Changes in Status of Heads of Households
14,146 heads of households: Now classified as poor, with incomes ranging from RM1,218 to RM2,742.
2,093 heads of households: Moved above the poverty line, with incomes over RM2,742.
477 heads of households: Deceased.
394 heads of households: Untraceable.
521 heads of households: Moved to other states.

Aid and Interventions
A total of 45,998 households have been given interventions and handed assistance
Housing:

• 4,482 Rumah Mesra SMJ houses allocated, with 1,709 housing units completed.
• 264 heads of households received house repair assistance.
• Employment Assistance:
• 95 Household Members given government jobs.
• 15 Household Members in government-linked companies.
• 102 Household Members in industry jobs.
• Education Assistance:
• 5,767 Household Members received higher education registration aid (RM2,000 per person).
• 6,737 Household Members received special cash examination aid.
• 710 Household Members received laptops.
• 2,865 newborns benefited from the Ehsan state education fund.
• Welfare Assistance:
• 4,266 Extremely Poor in Log 3 received aid.
• Plan to increase welfare aid allowance from RM350 to RM600.

Federal Government Assistance

• Rahmah Cash Contribution:
  18,494 heads of households received between RM200 to RM1,200 per year.
• Rahmah Basic Contribution:
• 16,941 heads of households received between RM450 to RM1,200 per year.
• People’s Income Initiative Program (IPR):
• 487 heads of households assisted, with 252 for IPR BMT, 230 for IPR Intan, and 5 for IPR Insan.
• Entrepreneurship:
  -3,439 Household Members became entrepreneur partners under Amanah Iktiar Malaysia.

Education Levels of Heads of Households

• 42% (9,356 heads of households): No academic qualifications.
• 20% (4,601 Head of households): Completed primary school education.
  -16% (3,690 heads of households): Completed lower secondary education.
• 21% (4,725 heads of households): Achieved education up to SPM.
• 1% (269 heads of households): Education up to STPM or skill certificates.

Reduction in Extremely Poor Heads of Households in Poorest Districts (as of June 30, 2024)

• Tongod: From 649 to 205.
• Beluran: From 1,101 to 334.
• Pitas: From 1,642 to 443.
• Kinabatangan: From 483 to 168.
• Kota Marudu: From 1,391 to 253.
• Tuaran: From 1,054 to 282.
• Ranau: From 1,205 to 239.
• Lahad Datu: From 526 to 259.

Methods to Combat Extreme Poverty

1. Fieldwork and Profiling**:

• A special task force established by the SMJ Secretariat and state administration collaborates with grassroots unit, UPPM, and District Offices.
• Regular reviews and updates of the current status of Heads of Households for data coordination in the IKASI system.

1. Aid Distribution:

• Aid is matched to the specific needs of Heads of Households.
• Coordination by the SMJ Secretariat with 27 aid-giving agencies ensures targeted assistance.

1. Employment and Education Assistance Programs:

• Programs like My SMJ Profiling and My SMJ Kerja help provide government jobs.
• My SMJ Kerja GLC and My SMJ Kerja Industry facilitate employment in government-linked companies and industries.
• One-off registration assistance for higher education, special cash examination aid, Ehsan computer assistance, and state education fund for newborns support educational needs.

1. Community Involvement:

• The SMJ Secretariat engages with communities to involve them in decision-making processes, ensuring that initiatives meet local needs.

1. Federal Government Programs:

• Initiatives like Rahmah cash and basic contributions, and the People’s Income Initiative Program (IPR) with various entrepreneurial programs, aim to provide sustainable income sources.
• The Amanah Iktiar Malaysia initiative helps Household Members become entrepreneur partners.