Suhakam commissioner in charge of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria was commenting on the fact that the urban poor are not being provided with financial assistance from government departments and other entities. He also said the Welfare Department should deploy more officers to do housecalls instead of waiting for the poor to approach them.

“Some of them are not aware of the assistance provided by these agencies, so it is best if the Welfare Department or other relevant agencies can go to the ground and check on these people and at the same time they can also update their data.”

He said because of the present situation many urban folk were turning anti-establishment as they felt neglected by the government.

“I have met so many of these people and they told me they are Bumiputera and yet had nothing. I thought this problem was only among the Indians, but it seems that I am wrong.”

He said the authorities such as the Welfare Department should rebuild their networks with community heads like the surau chairman for people living in these low-cost flats to use as a referrence point in order to provide assistance.

“In kampungs, the Welfare Department has a link with the village head, but for those living in urban areas they don’t have such contact. That is why it is important to have a reference point. With such a reference point, the Welfare Department can then have a liaison person to speak to and find out more about the situation on the ground.”

I’m not sure if NST quoted him correctly, but Denison seems to have admitted that the Indians have been neglected, and he now realises that the urban poor Malays are also being neglected. By the way, there are many funds and channels to help Malay Muslims – either through welfare or religious agencies. How about funds or channels to help others?

Below is the letter by Denison (published in NST):

Poverty Levels: Show them the way to a better quality of life
By : DATUK DR DENISON JAYASOORIA,
Chairman Economic, Social and Cultural Working Group, Suhakam

SITI Nurbaiyah’s report “Poor Muslims slipping through the zakat net” (NST, Sept 18) highlights the plight of 30 hardcore poor families in Taman Sentul Utama who have not been able to access welfare assistance, either through religious institutions or through the Welfare Department.

This is shocking, especially when the government has made poverty eradication its No 1 priority and also has set a target of zero hardcore poverty by 2010.

There is a major gap between policy makers, service delivery and implementation institutions on the one hand and the very poor at the bottom of society. The poor are alienated and distant from the very institutions that were established to help them.

The poverty-line income, or income measure for the hardcore poor and the poor, is unrealistic. Take the plight of the family of Rosnaini Abu Hassan, whose only income is from her son who earns RM850. This family is statistically “non-poor” and definitely not hardcore poor.

But, look at their predicament: Their house rent is RM450. She has a mother who is 88 and a son who is disabled.
By official statistics they are “non-poor”. In reality, they are very poor in an urban environment of increasing prices and rising cost of living.

This is a common problem for many low-income families living in urban areas. Their life is hard and often the opportunities to build their capability and capacity are not there.

There are similar cases, not just among poor Malays but also among many displaced Indian plantation workers.

A key issue has been why these families are unable to access the Welfare Department for direct assistance or unable to access the poverty-eradication programmes meant for the urban poor.

Access and inclusion are the keys to empowering the poor. It is not through handouts but by being shown the way to a better life that these families can break the cycle of poverty.

Why are the cries of the poor not heard or entertained? Is there some form of discrimination because they are poor or powerless? Why is this so when so much funds are being set aside, both by the public and private sector?

Suhakam calls on the relevant public sector agencies, especially the Welfare Department and the social-development section of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, to review this situation and ensure that these poor families in Taman Sentul Utama are not further marginalised.

The right to development is a fundamental right and the poor must have opportunities to enhance their economic and social rights.

Suhakam also calls on the government to immediately establish a task force, especially in the urban areas which are under the purview of local governments, to identify the poor and ensure they have access to a better quality of life.

Also, the government’s Economic Planning Unit should review the poverty line income and methodology in identifying the real poor. In addition to the income measure, other qualitative or quantitative indicators must be used to ensure greater inclusion and access.

We must establish fair and equitable mechanisms in addressing the root issues and concerns of the urban poor.

There has been repeated calls to reevaluate the poverty line because its ridiculous to set it between RM600 and RM700. The poverty index should include location, number of dependents (and their status) and income.