Deputy economy minister Hanifah Hajar Taib said this was shown by the eKasih dynamic data managed by the implementation co-ordination unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Based on the Household Income, Expenditure and Basic Amenities Survey Report 2019, she said the incidence of absolute poverty was 5.6%, while hardcore poverty was 0.4%.

The ministry had earlier explained that hardcore poor referred to those with a monthly household income of less than RM1,169 while those in absolute poverty had an income of less than RM2,208.

“The department of statistics is finalising the findings, which are expected to be published in the third quarter of 2023,” she said during the question-and-answer session today, responding to Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) about the government’s progress in this area over the past six months.

Hanifah said the country’s labour market had also improved since the country entered the transition to endemic phase, as the unemployment rate for March 2023 dropped to 3.5%, compared to 5.3% in May 2020.

Strong economic growth in 2022 had helped support recovery in the labour market, she added.

She further said the government is implementing various intervention measures to address poverty, some of which had been announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of the 2023 budget.

Among the measures announced were the Rahmah cash aid to about nine million recipients, costing nearly RM8 billion, various subsidies to padi farmers and smallholders, and the unity package prepaid mobile internet plan.

Hanifah said as of May 22, nearly 83,000 participants had registered for the People’s Income Initiative (IPR), which focused on empowering the B40 group. About RM750 million has been allocated for that purpose this year.