PM Anwar receives royal appreciation for hardcore poverty eradication efforts

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment in eradicating hardcore poverty received royal appreciation from Kedah Ruler, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.

His Royal Highness said the hardcore poor eradication programme under Anwar’s administration had reduced hardcore poor by 77 percent.

“I appreciate the Prime Minister’s concern in swiftly assisting the 1,750 hardcore poor families. I was informed that, to date, the number has been reduced by 77 per cent, with just 404 families remaining,” Sultan Sallehuddin decreed at the awards and medals investiture ceremony in conjunction with his 82nd birthday celebration held at Istana Anak Bukit here today.

Sultan Sallehuddin also expressed his wish for the federal government to respond swiftly to the state’s development wish list.

“I really hope for the prime minister and the federal government to approve the request for a RM200 million fiscal incentive for the Kedah government. This is a reciprocating mechanism, where my government has to retain 113,000 hectares of padi cultivation area to contribute 43 per cent towards the nation’s rice self-sustainability.

“This represents a lost opportunity for other developments and agricultural activities that could generate much higher revenue for the state. Therefore, the fiscal incentives will balance future revenue and expenditure for Kedah’s socio-economic development,” he decreed.

NGX

“Additionally, the fiscal incentive may also be used to expand economic activities, such as developing more commercial areas for small-scale entrepreneurs,” the ruler said.

The Kedah sultan also credited the federal government for its efforts in the special border economic zone and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority.

“This is because almost 50 per cent of the area in the Bukit Kayu Hitam Special Border Economic Zone and Kedah Rubber City is led by NGX, a subsidiary of the Finance Ministry Incorporated and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority,” he said.

The ruler also urged Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to have closer ties with the federal government.

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