More than 4,600 hardcore poor families uplifted
Tunku Ismail tells the State Legislative Assembly at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar, that state must not overlook the needs of Johor citizens as it moves towards becoming a developed state.
JOHOR is getting closer to its goal of reducing poverty after it successfully uplifted more than 4,600 hardcore poor families.
Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said this included 234 households that were uplifted with the help of the state government in the first four months of this year.
'I have been informed that the state government assisted 4,378 heads of hardcore poor households during the first phase last year.'
He said those households were no longer classified as hardcore poor as of July 31, 2024.
According to him, as of April 29, another 234 households were moved out from that category, under the second phase.
Tunku Ismail said this when officiating the fourth term of the 15th Johor State Legislative Assembly at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar.
The Regent said he was pleased with the state government's commitment to safeguarding the people's welfare.
'I would like to express my appreciation to the state government for implementing various initiatives in collaboration with the Federal Government to make the elimination of hardcore poverty in Johor a reality.
'This commitment clearly reflects the concern and determination of the Johor government in safeguarding the welfare of its people, especially those in need.'
He also said that the state must not overlook the needs of Johor citizens as it moved towards becoming a developed state.
'I hope priority will be given to the people of Johor when it comes to job opportunities and that greater efforts will be made to create more employment, especially high-paying jobs.
'Johor's economic growth must benefit all its people.
'The income levels of Johor citizens should also rise accordingly to help cope with the increasing cost of living,' he said.
On a separate matter, Tunku Ismail said the Johor royal family hoped that all Johor citizens would have access to affordable homes.
'Housing for the people of Johor has always been a priority of the Johor royal family.
'Through the Johor Affordable Housing Scheme (RMMJ), every Johor citizen should be able to own a home without shouldering a burden that is too heavy to bear.
'A total of 21,000 units of RMMJ were completed as of last March, which is 70% of the target of 30,000 units by 2026. Of that number, 16,000 units have been occupied so far,' he said.
In April, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state government planned to build 50,000 more affordable homes by 2029, after delivering 16,000 units in the past three years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ready for battle: GRS election machinery set, seat deal pending
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) said it was fully prepared to contest the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17), with its election machinery already in place across all constituencies. Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that multiple training sessions have been carried out in each constituency and State Legislative Assembly (DUN) area ahead of the upcoming polls. "What's clear is that GRS is ready. "We have already set up our election machinery and held a series of training sessions to prepare for the election. "However, discussions on the allocation of seats have not yet taken place," he told reporters after officiating the 2025 District Police Headquarters (IPD) Tuaran-level Qurban Programme. Hajiji is also the state Chief Minister. Also present were State Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also Kiulu assemblyman, Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, and Pantai Dalit assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya. The Sabah State Legislative Assembly is set to be automatically dissolved in October, with elections required by early December. GRS comprises eight component parties. There are 73 state seats in Sabah. Despite earlier announcements that GRS leaders would meet to finalise seat distribution, no decision has been made.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Unwise policy on foreign workers: Harris
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025 Text Size: Harris said many key industries, especially in states like Sabah, rely heavily on foreign labour due to a lack of local interest in physically demanding jobs such as those in the oil palm sector. Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh urged the Federal Government to review its current policy requiring foreign workers to return to their home countries for six months after a year of employment, describing it as counterproductive and disruptive to industries. He said foreign workers are vital to sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture, and the policy could unintentionally impact both productivity and workers' welfare. Advertisement 'Foreign workers contribute significantly to Malaysia's economy. However, requiring them to return home after just one year poses challenges — not only for the workers who may struggle to find short-term employment in their countries but also for industries that depend on a stable and consistent workforce,' he said in a statement. Harris said many key industries, especially in states like Sabah, rely heavily on foreign labour due to a lack of local interest in physically demanding jobs such as those in the oil palm sector. 'To maintain our economic growth, particularly our target of over five per cent annually, it is essential that labour policies are practical and aligned with the realities on the ground,' he said. He expressed concern that the six-month return policy has led to unintended consequences, including large numbers of workers being stranded in border towns such as Nunukan in Kalimantan, Indonesia. 'Reports have shown that some of these workers, once returned, lack access to proper shelter or employment, highlighting the need for a more humane and structured approach,' he said. Harris added that while Malaysia positions itself as a proponent of human rights and Islamic values, it is important that domestic policies reflect these principles in practice. He urged the Government to reassess its policies with a view toward both economic resilience and humanitarian responsibility. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
MBI needs RM4.25mil to complete roof project for Gerbang Malam night market
At Ipoh's Gerbang Malam night market, 185m has roofing while funding is needed to complete the project. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star THE second phase of roof construction for Gerbang Malam along Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar is 85% complete, says Ipoh mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah. He said the roof had been designed with adequate height clearance to avoid obstructing nearby commercial units and shoplots. 'The city council is committed to conducting an immediate survey of the night market site, to assess the current situation and ensure the needs of traders and visitors are taken into account in further planning,' he said. It was previously reported that traders at the site had complained that part of the roof had yet to be put up, causing them to lose business during the rainy season. Zamakhshari said the roof design would address this issue. The first phase of the project, which involved building the roof over 185m of the night market area, was completed in April 2023 at a cost of RM2.9mil, with RM2.6mil coming from the Federal Government and an additional RM300,000 from the city council. 'Work on the second phase began on Oct 14 last year,' said Zamakhshari. He noted that another 171m-long stretch was still without a roof, due to funding constraints. He said MBI had submitted a RM4.25mil funding request to the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the implementation of Phase 3. 'It includes the construction of additional roofing, the installation of industrial fans and improvements to pedestrian walkways. 'We will continue working to secure additional funds to complete the project for the well-being of traders and the comfort of visitors.' He said MBI was optimistic the request would be approved, adding that 'MBI is committed to overseeing this project comprehensively.' Zamakhshari said MBI was focused on prioritising traders' welfare, enhancing Gerbang Malam's image as a tourist attraction and ensuring that every development project would benefit Ipoh residents. 'MBI deeply appreciates the patience and support of all parties in our efforts to build a more progressive and prosperous city,' he said. Gerbang Malam is one of Ipoh's key tourist attractions where small and medium-sized traders operate daily from 6pm to midnight.
