Selangor Defends Poverty Data Approach Based on Official Poverty Line Income Measures
State Government Says Welfare Programmes Continue to Support Vulnerable Communities
SHAH ALAM — The Selangor government has defended its approach to measuring poverty levels, stressing that assessments are based on official Poverty Line Income (PGK) indicators and nationally recognised data systems.
Political secretary to the Selangor Menteri Besar, Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad said the state government has never denied the existence of poor families or vulnerable communities requiring assistance.
According to him, various intervention measures and welfare programmes have been implemented to help residents facing rising living costs and ongoing economic pressures.
Among the programmes highlighted were Bingkas, Khairat Darul Ehsan, Iltizam Selangor Sihat, Jom Shopping Perayaan and the Skim Mesra Usia Emas (SMUE).
“Efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty, especially in Selangor, have long been a key focus of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Madani Government since the administration began.
“The government is not merely talking about welfare issues but is implementing direct interventions for communities affected by rising living costs and economic challenges,” he said in a statement today.
He was responding to remarks by Selangor opposition leader Mohamed Azmin Ali, who claimed that a recent royal address by the Sultan of Selangor indicated poverty issues in the state remained unresolved.
Azmin had referred to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) data showing that 21,997 heads of households in Selangor were registered under the eKasih system in 2024.
According to him, the figures showed that many residents in the state were still living in poverty and required assistance.
However, Saifuddin Shafi argued that the criticism was politically motivated and failed to consider the actual role of the eKasih database and government welfare mechanisms.
He explained that eKasih data functions as a detection and assistance delivery system for targeted groups rather than proof that the government had failed in tackling poverty.
“As a former Menteri Besar, he should understand that eKasih data is part of the government’s assistance and intervention mechanism,” he added.
In the same statement, Saifuddin Shafi also criticised Mohamed Azmin by alleging that the former minister had previously denied links between rising Covid-19 cases and factory clusters during his time overseeing trade and industry matters.
He also stressed that the state government remains committed to upholding the decree of Sharafuddin Idris Shah by strengthening the role of the Selangor Zakat Board and continuing poverty eradication efforts in a sustained manner.
According to him, comprehensive strategies involving welfare assistance, economic support and social intervention programmes will continue to be strengthened to assist vulnerable communities across Selangor.
-wilayah.com.my
