JOHOR BARU: The number of hardcore poor in Johor has dropped by over 90%, says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (pic).
Onn Hafiz said as of this month, there were only about 300 family heads in the hardcore poor category statewide compared to more than 4,000 in March last year.
“Various initiatives have been conducted by the state and Federal governments to ensure that we are able to realise the goal of having zero hardcore poor in Johor.
“Since March last year until June this year, the number of family heads in the hardcore poor category has dropped from 4,378 to 359. That is a 92% drop,” he said in a statement on Facebook on Saturday (June 15).
He added that programmes that had been conducted to reduce the number of hardcore poor include the Keluarga Angkat and Dapur Kasih Johor programmes.
“Other efforts include channelling allocations to help increase household income, assistance to fix homes, and assistance in terms of equipment, training, and education,” he said.
During the tabling of the Johor Budget 2024, the Mentri Besar announced the Johor Kasih initiative as an effort to reduce the number of hardcore poor in the state.
Under the initiative, local leaders, including assemblymen, district officers, councillors, and village heads, adopt several families under the hardcore poor category and assist them.
