The Perak State Secretary delivering his presentation during the programme.

SUNGKAI, 2 October 2020 – The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) in collaboration with the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Prime Minister’s Department has organised the Poverty Line Income (PGK) Seminar 2019 at the Malaysia Statistical Training Institute in Sungkai.

The seminar, officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, involved four states under the NCIA, namely Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak.

It was held to present the results of the PGK 2019 review, discuss the impact, identify issues and challenges on the poverty line faced as well as recommending strategies/action plans to eradicate poverty in the NCIA region.

At the same time, Perak State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim presented the findings of the Focus Group Discussion session on the findings of the Northern Zone PGK 2019 on behalf of the Perak State Government, which was implemented by the State Economic Planning Unit together with state agencies and departments on 24 September.

Also present at the seminar were Perlis State Secretary Azman Mohd Yusof, Penang State Financial Officer Dato’ Dr Mohamad Farazi Johari, Kedah Economic Planning Division Director Muhammad Mahazi Ibrahim, EPU Deputy Director-General Dr. Maziah Che Yusoff,  EPU Regional Development Division Director Dato' Ahmad Zamri Khairuddin, NCIA Chief Executive Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John, Department of Statistics Malaysia Chief Statistician Dato' Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin and Honorary Professor at Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CENPRIS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Professor Dato’ Dr. Sukor Kasim.

Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed also had the opportunity to visit the Kampung Sungai Odak Indigenous community site where the NCIA conducted human capital programmes comprising Academic aspects as well as Skills & Entrepreneurship Training. This holistic approach was crucial to eradicating poverty among the Orang Asli community as well as creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem at the NCIA.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.