Malaysia's Hardcore Poverty Eradication Claims: A Deeper Look
The government of Malaysia has announced the eradication of hardcore poverty, but a closer examination reveals that thousands of households continue to struggle to survive.
According to recent post-Budget news reports, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that Malaysia has reduced its hardcore poverty rate to 0.09%, effectively eradicating poverty. However, this claim does not tell the whole story.
Malaysia has reduced its hardcore poverty rate to 0.09%
Notably, Malaysia's approach to measuring poverty differs from most governments, which typically refer to absolute or relative poverty lines. Instead, Malaysia has used hardcore poverty as an indicator of its anti-poverty programs' successes.
Despite the government's celebration of this achievement, the reality is that many households are still struggling to make ends meet.
Author's summary: Malaysia's poverty eradication claims are misleading.