KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged
to help the hardcore poor by giving them debit cards with a monthly
token for buying basic foodstuff at designated shops.
Royal Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid the
size of the token would depend on the government's financial position.
"But I think RM300 will be nice for them to buy rice, oil, sugar and other basic items," he said after the launch of his book The Renaissance Man yesterday.
The book, published to celebrate Ungku Aziz's 88th birthday, was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Ungku Aziz, who was the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Malaya, said at present some of the government's subsidies, such as those given for flour and rice, are being enjoyed by everyone.
"The hardcore poor are not in that state because they choose that life. A little help will reduce their burden."
"But I think RM300 will be nice for them to buy rice, oil, sugar and other basic items," he said after the launch of his book The Renaissance Man yesterday.
The book, published to celebrate Ungku Aziz's 88th birthday, was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Ungku Aziz, who was the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Malaya, said at present some of the government's subsidies, such as those given for flour and rice, are being enjoyed by everyone.
"The hardcore poor are not in that state because they choose that life. A little help will reduce their burden."
He suggested having a smart chip in the card to
avoid cheating or misuse. The card could have particulars of the users
as found in MyKad.
Ungku Aziz said subsidies should be removed from the system and replaced with the token scheme for the poor, including the Orang Asli.
Muhyiddin, who studied rural economy under Ungku Aziz, thanked him for his interest in the subject and also commended him for his intellectual contribution to the nation.
"I hope he is proud that one of his students is a deputy prime minister," he said in his speech.
Muhyiddin said as an economist and academician, Ungku Aziz is well-versed with wealth distribution problems and imbalances in the education system.
He said the poor in rural areas were not only poor, but did not have the opportunity for proper education, especially in science and technology.
"But what Ungku Aziz did was revolutionary. He started special coaching classes to allow more Bumiputera students to pass in the subjects."
The intervention helped many of these students to excel in engineering and other professional subjects, he added.
Ungku Aziz said subsidies should be removed from the system and replaced with the token scheme for the poor, including the Orang Asli.
Muhyiddin, who studied rural economy under Ungku Aziz, thanked him for his interest in the subject and also commended him for his intellectual contribution to the nation.
"I hope he is proud that one of his students is a deputy prime minister," he said in his speech.
Muhyiddin said as an economist and academician, Ungku Aziz is well-versed with wealth distribution problems and imbalances in the education system.
He said the poor in rural areas were not only poor, but did not have the opportunity for proper education, especially in science and technology.
"But what Ungku Aziz did was revolutionary. He started special coaching classes to allow more Bumiputera students to pass in the subjects."
The intervention helped many of these students to excel in engineering and other professional subjects, he added.
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment