Sarawak Premier: Poverty calculation must include assets, not just cash
Speaking at the opening of a RM4.7 million bridge here, he said poverty should not be calculated solely on a household's cash income. Instead, he said, the calculation should also be based on the assets each household possesses.
The premier also disagreed with claims that Julau was among the poorest districts in the country.
"His economic data is not correct. I have suggested to him to go to the ground, get more information because in the aspects of the rich and poor, according to basic economy, it is based on assets as well, not cash alone.
"It should be assets plus cash," he said, adding that many people from Julau had purchased houses in Sibu Jaya with cash when he was housing minister.
"Even a bank was shocked because normally, house buyers used loans to buy the houses," he said.
Abang Johari said the house buyers bought the property from their agriculture income.
"So, I said to the economy minister then that your calculation was wrong. No calculation is based on what you see, but also on your assets. This is a basic economy. That was why he was surprised why we (the state) have more income," he said.
The premier said he did not want to comment on the income earned by rural farmers. He said it was "weird" that residents would request a multi-storey car park if they were poor, as it meant there were more vehicles on the road and more parking spaces were needed.
Abang Johari approved the construction of a RM5 million multi-storey car park for Julau town.
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