The state government aims to reduce the percentage of B40 households through the 2030 Perak Sejahtera (Prosperous Perak) Development Plan Roadmap launched today.
According to the Menteri Besar of Perak, Dato’ Saarani Mohamad, the state has one of the highest percentage of B40 households at 12.7 percent. He opined that the high proportion was due to the national poverty line income (PLI) revision.
“The state government is concerned about the revision, as it has increased the PLI to RM2,077, causing more head of households to fall into the poor and extremely poor categories.
“This is where the development plan comes in. With it, the state government will be prioritising initiatives to close development gaps between districts in Perak by provision of infrastructural amenities and job opportunities to generate and spur local economies.”
He said so during his launching ceremony speech at the state secretariat building earlier today (March 29).
Also present were the State Assembly Speaker, Dato’ Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid; State Secretary, Dato’ Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim; and Executive Councillor for Rural Development, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Dato’ Zainol Fadzi Paharudin.
Saarani added that the development plan roadmap was framed based on current global socioeconomic challenges, especially the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
“Even though the vaccination programme is being actively carried out in many countries, ours included, the World Health Organization (WHO) has forecasted transmission of the deadly virus to go on for at least a few decades.
“Luckily, we’re surrounded with highly sophisticated and educated citizens who are also familiar with the latest technologies.
“Thus, the state government will continue making digitalisation a main agenda in years to come,” he explained.
Chris Teh
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