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NATIONAL SUMMIT ON URBAN POOR & LOW INCOME GROUPS Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting the Prime Minister on arrival. The Prime Minister greeting Selangor Exco Member Teresa Kok whilst ASLI’s Ms Jean Wong looks on. Datuk Eddy Chen, Tan Sri Razak Ramli, Mr Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Michael Chen, Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong, Datuk A P Yong. The National Summit on Urban Poor and Low Income Groups was held on Monday, 14 July 2008, at Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa. Organised by ASLI, the Centre for Public Policy Studies and SUHAKAM, the objective of the National Summit was to gather key policymakers, academia, civil society and think tankers in addressing one of the most urgent issues burdening the nation today: urban poverty. With the rapid increase in costs of living, exacerbated by rising food and commodity prices, it was appropriate that the urban poor and low-income groups were considered as some of Malaysia’s best minds brainstormed on a series of issues in charting out solutions. Recommendations were then submitted to the Economic Planning Unit and the Prime Minister’s Department for further deliberation. Some of the main topics covered during the day-long event were as follows: “Adopting a Human Rights Approach to Urban Poverty Reduction”, “Helping Low- Income Groups: A Private-Public Partnership”, “Housing, Healthcare & Social Services for Urban Poor & Low Income Groups”, “Creating Business & Employment Opportunities for Urban Poor & Low Income Groups”, and finally “Impacts of Poverty on National Unity”. Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi graced the occasion with a keynote address. He emphasized poverty in urban areas, driven by trends such as rural-urban migration, industrialization, immigration of foreign workers, and so on. Some of the problems include coordination between different government agencies, but reorganization has improved the effectiveness of local and state efforts to combat poverty. He also reiterated the complication of urban poverty as brought upon by multiple factors, and the need to tackle it from different perspectives. The root of it is a lack of income, which is Datuk Pardip Kumar, The Belgian Ambassador, Tan Sri Prince Gunaratnam, Mr Raymond Yong. worsened in urban areas with their high cost of living. Social safety nets were also stressed, from public housing initiatives to reviewing the CPI and assistance for hardcore poor and disabled. Finally, he stressed the need for cooperation and collaboration between NGOs, academia and government in addressing specific urban poverty needs. The ultimate objective is to address inequitable distribution of economic opportunities. Key speakers at the Summit included Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, SUHAKAM Commissioner, Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar Selangor, Prof. Sr. P. Ramasamy S/O Palanisamy, Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, President Parti GERAKAN/former Chief Minister of Penang, Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Deputy President, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Prof. Dr. Sulochana Nair, from the UM Centre for Poverty and Development Studies, Ms.Teresa Kok, Selangor State Councilor, Dato’ Abdul Ghani Arifin, Deputy Director-General, Implementation and Coordination Unit Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk David Chua, Deputy Secretary General, Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Malaysia, and other prominent personalities. Dato’ Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI in his welcoming remarks proposed several measures to the government, specifically a transport voucher of RM50 per month to low income groups, reduction in EPF contributions, banks to decrease interest on housing loans, establish an independent monitoring system to track plans for low-income groups and to implement comprehensive social safety nets. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria stated that Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi of Khazanah Nasional, Datuk David Chua and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam. Puan Sri Susan Cheah, Dato Dr. Ng Yen Yen and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.
NATIONAL SUMMIT ON URBAN POOR & LOW INCOME GROUPS Dato Dr. Micheal Yeoh presenting a memento to MIC President Dato Seri Samy Vellu. Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, SUHAKAM Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Hirman Ritom; Women, Community and Family Development Minister Dato Dr. Ng Yen Yen. Datuk Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Dato Syed Amin AL-Jeffri, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Prof Dr. Ramasamy and Dato Mohamed Dahan of GABEM. a conceptual overview of the human rights approach to poverty eradication includes a human welfare approach based on a charity model, where the poor are passive recipients. Prof. Dr. Sulochana Nair agreed, saying that the Poverty Line is very inaccurate in successfully calculating poverty. There is a great need to track public expenditures and set benchmarks and create mechanisms to ensure they are successfully met. Ms Teresa Kok stressed that 38% have income lower than RM2000 per month. The government has set RM800 as the poverty line, but this is just not enough. There is a need for the government to look closer at the town planning to accommodate the poor so that they have access to the resources of urban centers without the overwhelming costs. Datuk David Chua said that rapid urbanization has resulted in high urban concentration which places pressure on employment, housing, social amenities, and rising costs for all of these, and that there is a need for the public authorities to provide for affordable public housing, public transportation and urban management. Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu, President, Malaysian Indian Congress, said that eradication of poverty must cut across ethnic, religious and geographical groups, through skills development, producing knowledge workers. Datuk Hj. Mohd. Amin Nordin bin Abd Aziz, Deputy Director General, Services, City Hall Kuala Lumpur, announced that City Hall targets a zero squatter population by the end of 2008. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim called on the Ministry of Housing & Local Government to review its definition of the poverty line. In Selangor, 90% of the population lives within city limits, leading to high demand for social services and other measures for ameliorating urban issues. SUHAKAM Vice Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun chairing a session with Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and PKR Deputy President Dr. Syed Husin Ali. Pursuing privatization of real estate projects excessively contributes to greater income disparities, suggesting that this approach be reviewed. Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen stated that Malaysia has amongst the lowest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. The federal government creates incentives for employers to provide the disabled and other disadvantaged groups with gainful employment opportunities. Dato’ Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Immediate Past President Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI), stressed on the need to develop micro-enterprises. Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, President Parti GERAKAN/former Chief Minister of Penang, said there must be a strong commitment to equitable and fair eradication of poverty irrespective of race. Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Deputy President, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, agreed that basic needs should be provided to all irrespective of ethnicity. There is too much discrimination, which favors certain ethnicities and in-turn most often the rich. Dr. Denison Jayasooria summarized the findings and recommendations from the day’s Summit. This included the need for government to review the poverty line, have a focal point at every ministry on urban poor, making data available transparently, and to address intra-ethnic income disparities. In his closing speech, Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew, Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government (representing Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing and Local Government), said that the government is committed to halving its poverty rate to 2.8% by 2010. The Summit’s findings and recommendations are available online, at www.cpps.org.my, under the heading “Poverty Reduction”. Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim whilst Ms Jean Wong looks on. Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and Ms Teresa Kok.
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Page 5 and 6: THE 13TH MALAYSIAN CAPITAL MARKET S
Page 7 and 8: WORLD SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CONFEREN
Page 9 and 10: THE 4TH ASIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT Countr
Page 11 and 12: MALAYSIA-INDIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE T
Page 13 and 14: EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS Dato Sri Mohd Naj
Page 15 and 16: NATIONAL TOURISM FORUM 2008 Dato Sr
Page 17 and 18: NATIONAL PROPERTY & HOUSING SUMMIT
Page 19 and 20: CSR & SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS CONFE
Page 21 and 22: Strategic Issues Forum (SIF)/Corpor
Page 23 and 24: THE 5TH NATIONAL UTILITIES SUMMIT D

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