Malaysia's Poverty Rate: Unveiling the Hidden Truth

🔍UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston reveals Malaysia's true poverty rate of 15%, significantly higher than the official figure of 0.4%.

💔The government's low poverty line definition, set at less than $240 per household per month, underestimates the true extent of poverty in the country.

🏙️Urban poor make up about 30% of the city population, struggling to afford basic necessities due to the low poverty line threshold.

🌍The most vulnerable groups affected by poverty in Malaysia include the indigenous people, undocumented workers, stateless people, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

💰Budget constraints should not be an excuse for the government to neglect efforts in fighting poverty and investing in social welfare programs.

What is Malaysia's official poverty rate?

—The official poverty rate in Malaysia is reported to be 0.4%.

What is the poverty line threshold in Malaysia?

—The poverty line threshold in Malaysia is set at less than $240 per household per month.

Who are the most affected groups by poverty in Malaysia?

—The most affected groups by poverty in Malaysia include the indigenous people, undocumented workers, stateless people, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

Why is the government's poverty line definition criticized?

—The government's poverty line definition is criticized for underestimating the true extent of poverty in the country and leading to underinvestment in poverty reduction.

What should Malaysia do to address the issue of poverty?

—Malaysia should revise its poverty line definition, increase investment in poverty reduction, and prioritize efforts to improve the standard of living for its citizens.

00:00Malaysia's Economic Affairs Minister expresses disappointment towards the latest poverty report by UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston.

00:25Malaysia officially claims a poverty rate of 0.4% but UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston reveals the true poverty rate to be 15%.

00:37The government's low poverty line definition, set at less than $240 per household per month, underestimates poverty in the country.

01:10The most vulnerable groups affected by poverty in Malaysia include the indigenous people, undocumented workers, stateless people, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

02:12The government should prioritize efforts to fight poverty and improve the standard of living for its citizens, despite budget constraints.