Prime Minister Badawi: 'My Goal is to Completely Eradicate Hardcore Poverty From Malaysia'

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Radical Anti-Poverty Programme Is Key Part Of Prime Minister
Badawi's Plans For 'Prosperity For All'

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, campaigning today in Terengganu,
in northern Malaysia, spoke about his "ambitious but achievable"
programme to eradicate all hardcore poverty from Malaysia.

Speaking as he campaigned ahead of the March 8th general
elections, Mr. Badawi said that tackling poverty and sharing the
benefits of wealth creation had been a key priority of his government
over the last four years.

"It is time now to up the pace in our anti-poverty drive, with a
renewed mandate, renewed vigour and a tougher goal," he said.

Since 2004 Mr Badawi's government has succeeded in reducing
hardcore poverty from 1.2% to 0.7% of the population.

"I can confidently pledge that, with a renewed mandate, we will
eradicate hardcore poverty from our country completely. That is my
goal. It is both ambitious and achievable," he said on the campaign
trail.

"By doing so, Malaysia will be the only country in Asia with no
hardcore poverty at any level of our society. That is the scale of
the challenge I am setting for Malaysia's next government."

"When people ask me why it is worth voting in these elections I
tell them: with the renewed support of the people, we can deliver
even fewer children living in poverty, even more people living in
decent homes, having good jobs and enjoying better education
opportunities. We are determined to deliver greater security and
prosperity for all," said the Prime Minister.

Mr Badawi's governing coalition has made considerable progress
across the board in its anti-poverty programmes. The government have
reduced the numbers living in overall poverty, in both rural and
urban areas, from 5.7% of the population to less than 3.5%.

The coalition's manifesto commits the next Badawi-led government
to reduce the numbers living in overall poverty in the next three
years to 2.8% of the population.

Over the last 40 years the government's focus on removing the
root causes of poverty in Malaysia has seen the proportion of the
population living at or below the poverty line fall from close to 50%
in the 1970s, to just 3.5% today.

Malaysia, with 3.5% of the population living below the poverty
line is ranked above France (with 6.2%), the Netherlands (10.5%) and
the United States (12%).

Complementing its anti-poverty drive, over the last four years
the government has also:

-- Increased the monthly income for agricultural workers -- padi farmers
have see monthly incomes increase by 27%; rubber smallholders by 34%
-- Built 178,000 low-cost homes
-- Opened 14 new hospitals

Prime Minister Badawi is clear that there is more work to be done
and with a renewed mandate has pledged further improvements in job
creation, affordable housing, public transport, road development ,
infrastructure upgrading and improved delivery of electricity and
water supply.

During campaigning on Saturday, Prime Minister Badawi visited
Terengganu which, as part of the governing coalition's economic
development programme has seen significant improvement in the tourism
infrastructure. The government has worked hard to make tourism a
major industry in Terengganu, increasing the number of tourists to
the area from 2 million in 2006 to nearly 2.8 million last year and
aiming for a record 3.5 million in 2008. It has done this by staging
prestigious events such as the Monsoon Cup sailing regatta which was
voted Event of the Year by the World Match Racing Tour and attracts
tens of thousands of tourists to the state every year.

Through these and other initiatives the government is strongly
promoting Terengganu as a major tourist destination whose growth will
touch every segment of the state's economy from construction and
transportation to food, drink and manufacturing. Terengganu's
immaculate beaches and natural beauty have made it the newest
destination for international travellers that have traditionally
holidayed in Phuket, Bali and other idyllic spots in Southeast Asia.

ots Originaltext: BN2008 News
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Chong Sin Woon for BN2008, +6019-382-8461,
campaignupdates@BN2008.org.my