LET ME BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING THE ORGANISERS FOR HOSTING THIS SEMINAR TO DISCUSS THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES FACED BY THE URBAN POOR AND LOW-INCOME FAMILlES, AS WELL AS TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS BY WHICH WE CAN ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 9TH MALAYSIA PLAN* INDEED, IN DEVELOPING THE PLAN, THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING EFFORTS TO CONSULT THE PUBLIC ON DEVELOPING NEW POLICY IDEAS AS WELL AS TO ELICIT FEEDBACK ON EXISTING POLICIES* I STRONGLY BELIEVE THE RAKYAT CAN PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THIS REGARD*

POVERTY IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND ANY ATTEMPT TO DESIGN A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION WILL HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE MANY CAUSES OF POVERTY* TO BE EFFECTIVE, SOLUTIONS HAVE TO INVOLVE ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE POOR THEMSELVES* WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR POVERTY AND FULLY PLAY OUR PART IN ADDRESSING IT*

BY PUTTING IN PLACE EXPLICIT POVERTY ERADICATION MEASURES, MY GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE LEAST ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES* WE MUST NOW GIVE THIS COMMITMENT FRESH IMPETUS*

OVER THE LAST DECADE, IN THE THIRD OUTLINE PERSPECTIVE PLAN AS WELL AS IN THE EIGHTH MALAYSIA PLAN, DEVELOPMENT PLANNING HAS MADE NUMEROUS REFERENCES AND OUTLINED PROGRAMS TO ERADICATE POVERTY AND MORE BROADLY, TO HELP THOSE IN THE LOWEST 30 PERCENT INCOME CATEGORY* I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT OVER THE YEARS, SIGNIFICANT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTYo*

ABSOLUTE POVERTY HAS BEEN HALVED TWICE BETWEEN 1970 AND 1990, AND FURTHER REDUCED TO UNDER 5 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION AT PRESENT* HARDCORE POVERTY,WHICH AFFLICTS THOSE EARNING HALF OF THE POVERTY LINE INCOME, HAS BEEN SCALED BACK TO 0.5 PERCENT* EVEN INCOME DISPARITY BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL HOUSEHOLDS HAS BEEN REDUCED* FURTHERMORE, AVERAGE INCOMES HAVE BEEN RISING ACROSS ALL RACES AND REGIONS*IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THESE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN FIGHTING POVERTY HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE CONTEXT OF A FAST GROWING POPULATION*

WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS TAKE THE NEXT IMPORTANT STEPS IN ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ESCAPED POVERTY, NEVER FALL BACK INTO POVERTY AND INDEED CAN ADVANCE SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY TO JOIN THE TWO MILLION FAMILIES WHO COMPRISE THE COUNTRY'S MIDDLE CLASS* IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR NEW APPROACHES, IDEAS, AND POLICIES TO COUNTER WORRYING TRENDS FACING THE POOR* WE HAVE TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS IN COMPREHENSIVELY IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND, DELIVERY OF ANTI-POVERTY INITIATIVES, IN A MORE STRATEGIC AND TARGETED MANNER*

THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF MY GOVERNMENT* IN RECENT TIMES, ANTI-POVERTY POLICIES AND STRATEGIES HAVE BECOME MORE TARGETED, FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING CAPACITY BUILDING FRAMEWORKS AS WELL AS BY EMPHASISING QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS* MOVING FORWARD, WE NOW HAVE TO SET OUR SIGHTS AND OUR TARGETS EVEN HIGHER AND AIM FOR MIDDLE-INCOME ATTAINMENT FOR ALL THE NEARLY ONE AND A HALF MILLION POOR MALAYSIAN FAMILIES* TO DO THIS, WE MUST ANTICIPATE THE MANY CHALLENGES FACING THOSE MOVING OUT OF ABSOLUTE POVERTY*

THESE CHALLENGES LARGELY CENTRE ON THE ISSUE OF RELATIVE POVERTY* IN SIMPLE TERMS, RELATIVE POVERTY CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE CONDITION OF BEING POOR BY COMPARISON TO THOSE IN HIGHER INCOME BRACKETS* RELATIVE POVERTY IS A CONDITION PRIMARILY OBSERVED IN URBAN AND MORE DEVELOPED AREAS WHERE MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION LlVES*

THE MOST APPARENT PROBLEM ARISING OUT OF RELATIVE POVERTY WOULD PERHAPS RELATE TO AN INCREASING RESENTMENT PERMEATING AMONGST THE HAVE- NOTS* THIS COULD LEAD TO WORRYING FISSURES ARISING ACROSS URBAN COMMUNITIES AND POTENTIALLY EVEN ALONG ETHNIC LINES* WE MUST THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF RELATIVE POVERTY AND SEEK TO ADDRESS THEM*

IN CONTRAST TO THE ANTI-POVERTY APPROACH TAKEN IN THE PAST WHERE GREATER ECONOMIC GROWTH WAS EMPHASISED, WE MUST NOW RECOGNISE THAT GROWTH ALONE CANNOT ADDRESS THIS "RELATIVE" TYPE OF POVERTY* RELATIVE POVERTY ARISES LARGELY OUT OF UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF THE OVERALL GAINS IN INCOME AND WEALTH* THIS UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION IS BECOMING MORE APPARENT IN MALAYSIA AS INCOME INEQUALITIES CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN*

THE REASONS FOR UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION ARE MANY BUT NONE MORE SUCCINCT THAN THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THE URBAN POOR WORK IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR* THIS MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND JOB SECURITY THAT ARE UNSUSTAINABLE* VOLATILE INCOMES TRANSLATE INTO INADEQUATE CONSUMPTION AND UNSUSTAINABLE FORCED TRADE-OFFS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMIlY, WHICH THEN RESULT IN OVERALL DECLINES IN ALL QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS* FURTHERMORE, AS A RESULT OF WORKING IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR, THESE GROUPS ALSO FACE DISCRIMINATION AND HAVE LIMITED ACCESS~ TO THE FORMAL LABOUR MARKET, TO CREDIT AND TO OTHER URBAN SERVICES*

THE DEPRIVATIONS FACED BY LOW-INCOME FAMILES GO BEYOND INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT AND ARE BROAD-BASED* THESE INCLUDE INADEQUATE HOUSING, SANITATION AND OTHER BASIC UTILITY PROVISION AS WELL AS INSUFFICIENT ACCESS TO EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES* THE POOR ARE ALSO FAR MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE MANY FORMS OF URBAN POLlUTION*

ADDITIONALLY, GIVEN THE INCOME INEQUALITIES, THE MARKET WOULD MUCH RATHER CATER TO THE DESIRES OF THE MORE WELL-OFF URBAN RESIDENTS THAN THE NEEDS OF THE POOR* HENCE, THE GOODS AND SERVICES NEEDED BY THE POOR ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY INACCESIBLE AND WHEN AVAILABLE, PROVE TO BE LARGELY SUBSTANDARD*

MOREOVER, THE PROSPECT FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY IS HINDERED BY AN UNSTABLE OR NON-EXISTENT ASSET OR CAPITAL BASE* A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF INCOME IS SPENT ON BASIC NECESSITIES AND OTHER FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS* SAVING, THEREFORE, BECOMES AN INCREASINGLY DISTANT PROSPECT*

THESE MANY COMPLEX FACTORS COMBINE TO EFFECT SOCIAL DECAY* THE ONLY REMAINING CAPITAL AVAILABLE TO THE POOR; SOCIAL CAPITAL, WHICH COMPRISES NETWORKS OF FAMILIAL INTERDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, IS ALSO LOST* CHILDREN GROWING UP IN THESE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE LITTLE IMPETUS TO SUCCEED GIVEN THE SCALE OF THE IMPEDIMENTS FACING THEM* OUR AIM SHOULD BE TO COMPREHENSIVELY REINTRODUCE HOPE TO THEM AND MORE BROADLY, TO EMPOWER THE POOR TO HELP THEMSELVES*

THIS EMPOWERMENT OF THE POOR WILL NOT BE EASY, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF CONTINUED RISING TRENDS OF URBANISATION AND GLOBALISATION* RELATIVE POVERTY THRIVES IN SITUATIONS WHERE RAPID URBANISATION LEADS TO THE INCAPACITY OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT FORMAL EMPLOYMENT* THIS PHENOMENON IS RELEVANT TO US BECAUSE WHILE THE RATES OF URBANISATION ARE FALLING, URBANISATION CONTINUES TO OCCUR AT LEVELS WHICH SURPASS THE ABILITY OF THE FORMAL URBAN ECONOMY TO GENERATE EMPLOYMENT* HIGHER CRIME RATES AND OTHER SOCIAL ILLS ARE ALSO AN OBVIOUS OFFSHOOT OF THE UNAVAILABILITY OF LEGAL OR ADEQUATE MEANS OF INCOME GENERATION* THUS IT IS REASONABLE TO BELIEVE THAT CONTINUED URBANISATION WILL LEAD TO THE URBANISATION OF POVERTY IN GENERAL AND RELATIVE POVERTY IN PARTICULAR* WITHIN THIS CON1EXT, HERE WILL ALSO BE SUSTAINED UPWARD PBESSURE ON SOCIO- ECONOMIC SERVICES AS WELL AS OTHER RESOURCES TO SERVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE*

EQUALLY WORTH CONSIDERING IS THE ISSUE OF GLOBALISATION WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY BUT WHOSE EFFECTS ARE PLAIN ENOUGH TO SEE* AS AN EXAMPLE, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HAMPERS THE ABILITY OF THE POOR TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL ECONOMY WHERE ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS KEY* THIS WOULD THEN ADD ANOTHER NEW "INFORMATION" DIMENSION TO RELATIVE POVERTY* ADDITIONALLY, THE LlBERALISATION OF TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES WILL RESULT IN OUR EXPOSURE TO MARKEDLY MORE COMPETITION THAN WE MAY BE PREPARED FOR* THIS IS ALL THE MORE TRUE FOR THE LOW-INCOME GROUPS WHO NOW SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE*

THESE EVOLVING TRENDS, WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL, WILL THEREFORE CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASING RELATIVE POVERTY* TO COUNTER THEM AND INDEED, TO OVERCOME THEM, WE MUST ACT TO ENSURE THAT THE RATE OF CHANGE WITHIN THE COUNTRY MATCHES AND EVEN SURPASSES THE RATE OF CHANGE THAT IS SHAPING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN*

AS SUCH, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A NUMBER OF POLICY IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION, IN ORDER THAT WE MAY ENGENDER IMMEDIATE, CONSISTENT AND COMPREHENSIVE INTERNAL CHANGE* THESE INCLUDE DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL, EMPOWERING THE POOR, INTEGRATING THE POOR INTO THE URBAN ECONOMY, PURSUING HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS FACILITATING INVOLVEMENT OF ALL SECTORS*

FIRSTLY, THE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IN TERMS OF PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION AS WELL AS TRAINING, RE-TRAINING AND ABIDING ADULT EDUCATION SHOULD BE THE MAIN TOOLS WITH WHICH WE BUILD LONG TERM CAPACITY* THIS WILL ALLOW THOSE IN POVERTY TO PROGRESS TOWARDS BEING SELF-SUSTAINABLE* I MUST ALSO EMPHASISE THAT THIS MUST BE COMPLEMENTED BY EFFORTS TO EFFECTIVELY BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE*

THIS APPROACH WILL CONSOLIDATE OUR EMPHASIS, IN OTHER SECTORS, IN DEVELOPING THE SOFTWARE ASPECTS OF OUR ECONOMY* RAPID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES THAT TECHNICAL AND KNOWLEDGE CAPACITY SUFFUSE SOCIETY IN ITS ENTIRETY, FROM THE BOTTOM UP* THIS FOCUS ON HUMAN CAPITAL ALSO INTEGRATES, FROM EARLY ON, THE CURRENT POOR IN OUR NATIONAL EFFORTS TO BECOME AKNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY; AND THEREFORE MAKES AN EXPLICIT LINK BETWEEN NATIONAL GROWTH AND ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE THAT NEED IT THE MOST*

SECONDLY, WE MUST ENSURE THAT EMPOWERING THE POOR BECOMES A BROAD-BASED EXERCISE* IN INITIATING EMPOWERMENT, WE MUST FIRST REALISE THE FORTITUDE AND SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT ARE INHERENT IN ALL WHO INTEND TO BETTER THEIR LIVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN POVERTY*

POLICY MUST ENGENDER THE RECOGNITION OF THE POOR AS THE PRIMARY AGENTS OF CHANGE, OF THE POOR AS BEING RESOURCEFUL, CAPABLE, HARDWORKING AND EAGER* AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST RECOGNISE THAT THE POOR ARE THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY TOO IMPOVERISHED TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS ON THEIR OWN* THEY HAVE THE BEST PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROBLEMS FACED AND POSSESS A GROUNDED REALISM IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS* WE HAVE TO FIRST LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THEIR PRIORITIES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE* WE SHOULD CREATE A SUPPORTIVE POLICY ENVIRONMENT THAT BUILDS CAPACITY IN ADDITION O PROVIDING DIRECT AlD* THIS SHOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH WE FIGHT POVERTY*

ULTIMATELY, EMPOWERING THE POOR IS ABOUT REMOVING OBSTACLES THAT UNFAIRLY HAMPER THEIR SOCIAL MOBILlTY* THIS WILL GIVE THEM THE FREEDOM TO PURSUE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH WHICH WOULD BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AND REWARDING THAN EXCLUSIVELY TOP-DOWN INSTRUCTIVE PLANNING* THE POOR CANNOT BE CRUDELY GROUPED TOGETHER AS HOMOGENOUS INDIVIDUALS AWAITING IDEAS FROM ABOVE* POLICYMAKERS HAVE TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO SUCCEED*

WE MUST FIRST ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND FROM THERE, CREATE AN ACCURATE ILLUSTRATION OF POVERTY AS IT EXISTS* CURRENT GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING POVERTY MAPS FOR TARGETED POVERTY REDUCTION UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPREHENDING THE PROBLEMS AT HAND, BEFORE REVISING EXISTING POLICIES OR DEVELOPING NEW ONES*

THIRDLY, WE SHOULD DEVELOP STRATEGIES AIMED AT ENGENDERING THE INTEGRATION OF THE URBAN POOR INTO THE FORMAL URBAN ECONOMY* THE BENEFITS THIS WOULD BRING ARE ENORMOUS, AND WOULD RANGE, FROM BETTER JOB SECURITY TO GREATER S0CIAL MOBILITY TO HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY* THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS AN OBVIOUS AND SUBSTANTIAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS REGARD*

FURTHERMORE, WE MUST COMPREHENSIVELY INTEGRATE THOSE IN RELATIVE POVERTY INTO THE FORMAL MACHINERY OF THE URBAN ECONOMY, N TERMS OF SOCIAL FACILITIES, INCOME AND TRAINING TO NAME BUT A FEW DOING THIS, WE ALSO ENSURE THAT NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IS EXPLICITLY REFLECTED IN BETTER DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF THE POOR*

STRUCTURAL MOVES TOWARDS INTEGRATING THE IMPOVERISHED INTO THE FORMAL ECONOMY WOULD ADDITIONALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION CURRENTLY EXISTING ACROSS ETHNIC AND REGIONAL LlNES* IN ITS ONWARD EXPANSION, THE FORMAL URBAN ECONOMY MUST SEEK A BALANCE IN COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS AN ABILITY TO REDUCE INCOME DISPARITIES BETWEEN DIFFERENT URBAN GROUPS* THIS APPROACH IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S BROADER EFFORTS TO FACILITATE THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE BUMIPUTERA COMMUNITY AND OTHER GROUPS WHICH FIGURE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHLY IN THE POVERTY AND LOW-INCOME CATEGORIES* NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN CHECKING THE DECLINE OF SOCIAL COHESION AND THEREFORE, IN IMPROVING NATIONAL INTEGRATION*

FOURTHLY, WE MUST PURSUE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURE THAT FACETS OF RELATIVE POVERTY, THAT IS, ASPECTS THAT REINFORCE THE NOTION THAT ONE IS WORSE OFF, BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED* WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE GO BEYOND ENGENDERING EMPLOYMENT THAT GENERATES HIGHER INCOMES* OUR ROLE IS TO ALSO MAKE POSSIBLE THE ACCUMULATION OF AND ACCESS TO VARIOUS SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO BRING ABOUT LASTING PROGRESS*

IT NOW BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE FOUR MULTI-FACETED POLICY IDEAS OUTLINED WOULD NEED THE INVOLVEMENT OF A MYRIAD GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVE AGENCIES* HENCE, AS A FIFTH AND FINAL POLICY DIRECTION, WE SHOULD FACILITATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL SECTORS IN THESE EFFORTS*

IN THIS REGARD, THE GOVERNMENT WILL WORK TOWARDS ENHANCING MECHANISMS OF COOFERATION BETWEEN ITSELF AND N.G.Q.'s, ADVOCACY BODIES AND THE POOR THEMSELVES* WE WILL ADDITIONALLY STREAMLINE THE PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES OF THE MANY GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES THAT DIRECTLY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE POOR* RELATEDLY, THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT FROM FEDERAL TO STATE TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY LEVEL MUST BE MADE CLEAR ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THEIR ROLE*

WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AND THAT THEY CAN PLAY THIS ROLE WELL* ONE ROLE, WHICH SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED, IS THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE FINANCE SECTOR IN DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE FINANCING MECHANISMS THAT LOOKS PAST THE FORMAL LIMITATIONS OF COLLATERAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS*

THERE ARE MANY OTHER EXAMPLES THAT UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL SECTORS PLAYING A PART TO UPLIFT THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF FELLOW MALAYSIANS* POLICYMAKERS SHOULD BEGIN TO ARTICULATE SUCH SPECIFIC ROLES AND INTEGRATE THEM WITHIN ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS*

IN THE COURSE OF FURTHER DEVELOPING THESE FIVE POLICY IDEAS TO COMPREHENSIVELY ERADICATE POVERTY, BOTH RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE, WE MUST FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION* THE REFINING AND HONING OF POLICY INSTRUMENTS SHOULD BE THE NEXT OBJECTIVE IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES FACING THE POOR*

SOME OF THESE INSTRUMENTS HAVE TO BE DESIGNED ANEW IN LIGHT OF NEW THINKING IN POLICY TO ACHIEVE BETTER LIVES FOR THE POOR* WE HAVE TO BE BOLD AND BUILD ON PREVIOUS SUCCESSES IN FIGHTING POVERTY BY ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAMS AND MECHANISMS WE DEVELOP ARE INNOVATIVE AND INCISIVE, WHILE BEING GROUNDED IN REALITY* FOR EXAMPLE, WE MUST ENDEAVOUR TO DEVELOP INVENTIVE NEW FINANCING MECHANISMS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AFFORDABLE BASIC NEEDS, AS OPPOSED TO LOW-COST BASIC NEEDS FOR THE POOR* RATHER THAN PROVIDING THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE GOOD OR SERVICE, WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES PAID FOR BY NEW AND INNOVATIVE FINANCING MECHANISMS*

THE POLICY INSTRUMENTS WE USE TO IMPLEMENT ANTI-POVERTY POLICY SHOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE GRAND SCALE AND SCOPE OF OUR AMBITIONS TO COMPLETELY ERADICATE ABSOLUTE POVERTY AS WELL AS TO CREATE A MUCH LARGER MIDDLE CLASS* THESE INSTRUMENTS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE MOMENTUM NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE IDEALS OF A MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY*

THE EQUITABLE SOCIETY I SPEAK OF LARGELY HINGES ON OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE MAKE THE ESCAPE FROM POVERTY, IN ALL ITS MANIFESTATIONS, PERMANcNT* WE MUST FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR SUCCESS IN BREAKING THE VICIOUS CYCLES OF POVERTY AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE POOR DO NOT JUST PROGRESS FROM ONE FORM OF POVERTY TO ANOTHER* THEY MUST BREAK OUT OF IT COMPLETELY AND COMPREHENSIVELY*

THIS IS A HIGHLY CHALLENGING OBJECTIVE AND I ASK THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS, ESPECIALLY THE POOR THEMSELVES, WORK WITH ME TO ACHIEVE IT* ONLY A CLEARLY LAID OUT STRATEGY BACKED BY SOLID IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUMENTS CAN GUARANTEE SUCCESS IN ADDRESSING THE MANIFEST DEPRIVATION THAT THOSE IN POVERTY FACE ON A DAILY BASIS*

MY GOVERNMENT FULLY INTENDS TO KEEP ITS PROMISE THAT NO GROUP WILL BE LEFT BEHIND IN THE NATION'S PROGRESS* ADDITIONALLY, WITHIN COMMUNITIES IN POVERTY, WE WILL PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED, THE SINGLE MOTHER HOUSEHOLDS AS WELL AS OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS WHICH FACE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO PROGRESS* IN MY VIEW, A DEVELOPED SOCIETY IS ONE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE CHOICE TO LEAD THE TYPE OF LIFE THEY VALUE, FREE FROM THE ENCUMBRANCES OF BEING POOR*

MALAYSIA MUST GROW AND BUILD ON PAST SUCCESSES WITH REGARD TO ERADICATING POVERTY AND THUS BECOME AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD* WE HAVE ALWAYS CHAMPIONED THE PURSUIT OF GROWTH WITH EQUITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND FAIRNESS* WE MUST CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS ETHOS IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS SO THAT IT WILL STAND US IN GOOD STEAD AS IT HAS DONE IN THE PAST*

IT IS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS ETHOS THAT OUR SOCIETY SHOULD ACCEPT THAT WHATEVER AFFLICTS A PART OF THE WHOLE, EVENTUALLY AFFLICTS THE WHOLE IN ITS ENTIRETY* AND EQUALLY THEREFORE, THAT THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY WILL BE A GREAT BOON IN CREATING AN INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE ECONOMY THAT WILL THRIVE IN THE YEARS TO COME*

IN CONCLUDING, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF THE ORGANISERS IN HOSTING THIS DISCUSSION ON ISSUES FACING THE URBANP OOR* I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT WILL BE PUT FORWARD WITH A VIEW TO CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI- POVERTY POLICIES IN THE COMING MALAYSIA PLAN* ON THAT NOTE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO DECLARE OPEN THIS SEMINAR ON THE URBAN POOR AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES - TOWARDS THE 9TH MALAYSIA PLAN*