JULAU: A new method to measure poverty levels in Sarawak has been suggested by the state Economic Planning Unit (EPU), revealed Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg
He said the method had been proposed to the federal EPU and would be studied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Tok Pa).
“This is because the method used by the EPU in Kuala Lumpur is different. I have discussed with Tok Pa that the method to measure an individual’s wealth must be based on Net Tangible Assets (NTA).
“And if poverty is measured based on cash income, it is misleading .
“If the people have land, isn’t this an asset? Here in Julau, there is a lot of NCR land that they can use to generate income through agriculture,” he said during a press conference after the “Leader with the people programme” here on Today.
Abang Johari said the federal EPU evaluation might be wrong as the residents in the state, particularly those in Julau, were not poor. Many of them enjoyed high incomes as a result of their involvement in pepper cultivation.
“They also have their own SUV cars and many people here and those from Kanowit, Kapit and Song have bought houses in Sibu Jaya with cash due to their incomes from pepper which fetched high prices when I was the Housing Minister previously,” he said.
The premier added he had asked the EPU to appoint experts to determine whether the residents were poor or not according to the economic theory.
“We know what is happening here. From their evaluation, it seems that there is no development, and our people are poor, which is not true,” he added.
