The Usukan assemblyman said people have the “right to query and raise concerns if they find discrepancies or feel that unqualified individuals are benefitting from this programme”.

“This transparency is essential to ensure that only those who truly qualify receive the assistance they need,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Salleh, who was the communications and multimedia minister from 2015 to 2018, said this follows his proposal in the Sabah state assembly last year that the list of beneficiaries be exhibited at the village level and in district offices.

“Public oversight is not just a necessity but a right. It is crucial for us to maintain the integrity of our social welfare systems,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Sabah chief minister’s department said the state government will look into eradicating hardcore poverty cases recently registered in the eKasih database.

The department said 4,634 households were recently classified as hardcore poor, and that the Sabah Maju Jaya secretariat, which comes under its purview, is monitoring them.

It also said the group will be addressed under phase two of the Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme.