Nik Nazmi, who is also the Kelantan State Development Action Council joint chairman, said the first phase on July 1 involved 12,280 households, and the second phase on Dec 31 involved 1,761 households.

He said the initiative was in line with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s directive to eliminate hardcore poverty in the state.

“This is a continuous battle against poverty. While it may not be resolved within a short timeframe, these efforts will bring meaningful change to the lives of the affected communities,” Bernama quoted him as saying after delivering his New Year’s message at a meeting of the council in Kota Bharu today.

Nik Nazmi said poverty is a dynamic issue requiring long-term strategies and collective efforts.

“We will continue to monitor the situation, as the number of hardcore poor households can fluctuate over time,” he said.

On Jan 1, Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar reaffirmed that poverty alleviation in Kelantan remains a federal priority, focussing on coordinated welfare initiatives and direct assistance.

In May last year, Anwar reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling hardcore poverty alongside improving infrastructure and basic amenities under the Madani framework.

He directed federal agencies, including the implementation coordination unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and the state secretary’s office, to expedite solutions within two months.