How do one effectively deal with POVERTY?
WELFARE approach - Give a person a fish to eat, and continuously give him fishes all the time.
DEVELOPMENT approach - Teach the person to fish. Thus this method provides the needed skills, for one to escape poverty - and become independent. The original FELDA model did this - the poor and landless were given land, and taught skills so that they could become rubber/oil palm small holders - ultimately out of poverty. The State provided loans/housing with the understanding that the smallholder will ultimately pay back the loan, after his efforts bore fruit and profit. The principle was good, and it protected the DIGNITY of the worker - and led to liberation from poverty.
JUSTICE approach - But, the problem, is that self-empowerment alone is not enough. Knowing how to fish alone is not enough, when the fish in the river starts dying because of pollution caused by some factory upstream illegally discharging waste, some logging activities affecting the river, the building of some dam/land reclamation project that affects the fish in the water. Hence, the need for empowered persons to understand the socio-economic and political factors that may affect his/her livelihood so that he can act to prevent such happenings - to secure his/her livelihood and life..and the live of the community/nation.
Thus, whilst the welfare approach may be the first - to ensure that the poor have sufficient food, shelter, clothing > it cannot stop there but it must move forward UNLESS the State or POLITICIANS simple just want to build a culture of 'DEPENDENCY' - so that the people will always DEPEND on them, and will be unable to act on their own, not yet EMPOWERED to ensure their life and livelihood, and prevent any future destruction of that livelihood. The end of DEPENDENCY - the beginning of informed choices for a BETTER LIFE for oneself and all others.
Many a politician (and even political parties) prefer to cultivate DEPENDENCY - so that people will always believe that without these politician/political party, they will be goners .... so rather than striving for independence, empowerment,... dependency to keep them all 'poor', and believe that they need the politician or party to survive... without whom, they will again be marginalized and suffer.
When Malaysia achieved independence, it is an undeniable fact that many people were 'behind' in terms of education, skills, etc - it is the case in any community/nation, where special attention may be needed to UPLIFT people to a more equitable position...Rather than providing for a social upliftment or empowerment program based on poverty, marginalization, Malaysia took an ethnic-based approach - preferential treatment for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak... unfortunately some groups were missed out like the many Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia(many of whom were in a far worse condition) - Subsequent governments, to date, have yet to amend the Constitution to include the different Orang Asli communities as a group that ought to be accorded preferential treatment.
When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came into the picture, he identified a serious flaw, in that the very rich from these identified preferred groups were benefiting from this ethnic based solution, and so he took steps to remove the really rich from using/benefiting -
“We are not reducing or discontinuing subsidies to the people but subsidies such as electricity and Tabung Haji benefited by the rich are not reasonable to be continued,” he[Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim] said. He said he could not understand why there are still people defending subsidies for Malaysia’s rich who are said to make up roughly 20 per cent of income earners and are known colloquially as the T20 — for top 20 percentile demographic group....On May 22, Anwar said the exclusion would further include the T20 group from the subsidy scheme, for the purpose of facilitating the granting of subsidies in a more targeted manner. - Malay Mail, 12/6/2023
In my opinion, Anwar made a GREAT move - and moved towards an option for the POOR and MARGINALIZED, irrespective of ethnicity/religion > so no more will the RICH benefit from the ethnic based preferential system.
BUT, save for subsidies, he failed to address other issues like scholarship, places in educational institute, licenses, contracts, --- will the top rich Malays still be getting scholarship and university places(in Malaysia and overseas) for their children? Anwar's OPTION FOR THE POOR approach is right and we will see if he follows through...
Anwar's WELFARE approach to aid the POOR currently include the RAHMAH scheme, which include direct cash aid to recipients - it is NOT NEW, just a re-branding since Najib was Prime Minister
Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) handouts will be distributed in stages from Jan 17 onwards. This is the fourth time that the programme has been renamed since Najib Razak's administration, when it was known as Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia or BR1M. It was rebranded as Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) after Pakatan Harapan (PH), led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, took over the federal administration in 2018, and Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) under the Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin Yassin. The administration of Ismail Sabri Yaakob, which took over from Muhyiddin in 2021, called the handouts Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM), in line with the Keluarga Malaysia tagline being promoted at the time.
Menu Rahmah Programme have agreed to provide daily meals (either lunch or dinner) at a rate not exceeding RM5 per meal. Usually, the dishes in the Menu Rahmah Programme contain one source of protein either chicken or fish and one type of vegetable.One fundamental problem is that it is NOT A RIGHT - for that, we need a LAW that clearly stipulates the RIGHT TO ENTITLEMENT, possibly clearly stating who exactly is entitled, and HOW MUCH is the entitlement - for so long as it is not a RIGHT in law, it all depends on the sitting PM and his/her government, and it can be extinguished anytime. There is also the problem of determining who is entitled to receive it > for Malaysia still do not have a clear mechanism to determine who should be getting it - Does it just rely on self-declared monthly income, without taking into consideration other sources of income - shares/unit trust, lands, other buildings, etc? The RISK is that many who are really entitled may not get it...
The other problem is that AID in fact only is RM100 or RM200 a month - certainly far from enough for any poor person to survive on. It should be sufficient to cover rental, food, transportation and other NEEDED expenditure to survive...at least RM2,000 per month for those who really do not have any income whatsoever.
Now, the scheme helps 8.4 million recipients (or do they mean families?).
Rather than AID(or Fish), should we not protect the DIGNITY of people like the provision of job/work as done in some countries. What they do is to provide small jobs - like sweeping roads, office cleaning, selling parking tickets,etc - simple jobs within their means.. better jobs with an income, rather than welfare aid..
Malaysia has acknowledged that 8.4 million people need assistance - welfare aid is not a solution - it is better to provide jobs, appropriate to their capacity - Local Government and other governments can do this... After all, one problem in Malaysia is road cleanliness - now, most roads are not swept and maintained. In China, we see many people employed to sweep roads daily -- Rather than giving jobs like cutting grass to contractors, consider giving it to the poor in the towns, ...Malaysia have been removing jobs like tol booth collectors, petrol station attendants (now requiring drivers to fill their own petrol) - bring it back and give it to the local poor... security guards in schools.. better jobs, which preserve dignity, that outright aid..
FOR the elderly poor above 60 years of age, a government PENSION scheme until the pass on... let our OLD FOLKS retire and enjoy the remaining of their life. {As it is, thanks to the 'abuse' of the EPF/KWSP scheme allowing people to withdraw from the 'old age savings' have left many with no money... a poor scheme to provide houses for the poor has caused financial obligation of repaying loans even after they reach 60...
The government must deal with this issue of POVERTY amongst local Malaysians - as cost of living sky rockets, money set aside for 'old age', if any' is clearly not enough...
Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) 2024 explained: Are you eligible to claim?
In support of the B40 community, the Malaysian Government has kickstarted the distribution of phase 2 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme. They're increasing the funds by 20%, adding to last year's RM1.26 billion allocation to reach RM1.5 billion. This will benefit 8.4 million Malaysians, who will receive payments ranging from RM100 to RM650, based on their individual needs.
What is Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme?
Formerly known as Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia, the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme, or Rahmah Cash Contribution in English, provides cash assistance to Malaysians from the poor, B40 and M40 individuals, households, and senior citizens. The programme aims to alleviate financial burdens and enhance the well-being of eligible recipients.
Payments are distributed in four phases throughout the year:
• Phase 1: January 2024
• Phase 2: April 2024
• Phase 3: August 2024
• Phase 4: November 2024
These phases ensure that assistance is provided periodically to those in need, contributing to the overall welfare of Malaysian society.
Here’s what you need to know about eligibility and claiming:
Household income range: RM0 – RM2,500
0 child: RM150
1 - 2 child(ren): RM300
3 - 4 children: RM500
5 children and more: RM650
Household income range RM2,501 – RM5,000
0 child: RM100
1 - 2 child(ren): RM200
3 - 4 children: RM250
5 children and more: RM300
Senior citizens living alone (aged 60 and above)
Income range: RM0 – RM5,000: RM150
Single individuals and single OKU (aged 21 to 59)
Income range: RM0 – RM2,500: RM100 ...https://www.touchngo.com.my/blog/eligible-sumbangan-tunai-rahmah-str/
Another name change for govt cash aid programme
This is the fourth time the programme has been renamed since the Najib Razak era.
The government's cash aid programme has undergone yet another round of rebranding, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announcing today that Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) handouts will be distributed in stages from Jan 17 onwards.
This is the fourth time that the programme has been renamed since Najib Razak's administration, when it was known as Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia or BR1M.
It was rebranded as Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) after Pakatan Harapan
(PH), led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, took over the federal administration
in 2018, and Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) under the Perikatan Nasional
government led by Muhyiddin Yassin.
The administration of Ismail Sabri Yaakob, which took over from Muhyiddin in 2021, called the handouts Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM), in line with the Keluarga Malaysia tagline being promoted at the time.
In his announcement today, Anwar, who leads a coalition government comprising PH, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and several other parties, said a total of RM1.67 billion would be disbursed under the STR programme.
Of this, RM1.20 billion will go to some 400 households in payments of RM300 while the rest will be divided between RM100 handouts for 1.2 million single senior citizens and RM100 handouts for 3.5 million single individuals. Malaysia Now, 16/1/2023
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment