SHAH ALAM, Nov 21 — Only one individual in Selangor is categorised as hardcore poor as of yesterday, said Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the individual is currently receiving various forms of assistance and support from the state government to help them exit the category as soon as possible.
“We have two sources of poverty data: the Malaysian Statistics Department (DOSM), the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), as well as zakat assistance.
“Previously, we managed to eradicate hardcore poverty within a year, but when checks were carried out every six months, we found new cases emerging due to factors such as job loss or bedridden elderly individuals.
“Even when income falls, the state government and related agencies provide support to ensure they do not remain in the hardcore poor category,” Amirudin said in his winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly session today.
In the same development, the Menteri Besar said there are 1,351 individuals in the non-productive poor category who require particular attention.
“These include senior citizens, bedridden individuals, or those who have lost their jobs and are at risk of falling into the hardcore poor category," he said.
To strengthen social protection, the state government has introduced Bingkas Plus (Bingkasan), amounting to RM300 a month or RM3,600 a year, to prevent this group from falling into hardcore poverty.
“Selangor continues to move forward in its efforts to eradicate poverty,” Amirudin said.
Meanwhile, he stated that 60 per cent of zakat recipients are from outside Selangor.
“Neighbouring states are among the largest recipients, 10 per cent from the East Coast, and the rest from other states.
“This is a responsibility borne by the state government in line with robust economic activity and the increasing population as we address poverty issues in the future,” Amirudin said.
During the tabling of the 2026 Selangor Budget on November 14, he announced a RM5 million allocation to assist over 1,300 heads of households who do not meet the eligibility criteria for Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selangor (Bingkas).
The new special initiative, Bingkasan, will be implemented starting next year.
