KUALA LUMPUR DECLARED HARDCORE POVERTY-FREE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur has been declared hardcore
poverty-free.

Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja
Zainal Abidin said the number of poor and vulnerable people in the capital had
been reduced by at least 50 percent from a year ago.

He said from next year, the government would increase aid to target groups
through programs such as home sales, education aid and funeral care scheme.

"Under the urban well-being element, we have provided small business skills
training for the poor," he told reporters after launching of the inaugural World
Congress on Infrastructure Asset Management here Thursday.

Raja Nong Chik said efforts to completely overcome poverty and the
vulnerable in the urban areas would take time in view of the dynamic population.

"We will continue to help the hardcore poor. The poor may be out of the
doldrums but they could fall back into the pit again due to insufficient
assistance. To say that we can eradicate hardcore poverty 100 per cent is
difficult," he said.

-- BERNAMA