ID :
185434
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 05:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/185434
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA A SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING RURAL SECTOR, REDUCING POVERTY
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has steadily enjoyed substantial success in developing the rural sector and in reducing incidences of poverty, in both urban and rural areas, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said in 1957, the level of poverty in Malaysia as reported by the World Bank stood at well over 50 per cent.
Looking back at Malaysia's post-independence era from 1957, he said the country's economy, resource structure and industries were not really that much different from other less developed countries.
However he pointed out that the latest figures showed that the poverty rate had come down to below four per cent.
"Put in human terms, this means that there has been a sustained improvement in the quality of life especially in rural areas. In addition, our infant mortality and life expectancy rates, for example, now compare favourably with North America and Western Europe," he said.
Mohd Shafei said this when closing the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) Course themed "Sustainable Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation for African Countries - The Malaysian Experience", here Monday.
A total of 17 participants from Sub-Saharan countries namely Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia took part in the 15-day course, jointly organised by MTCP, JICA as well as the ministry's Institute for Rural Advancement (INFRA).
The course enabled the participants to understand rural development
policies, strategies and programmes in the context of Malaysian experiences and also a chance to learn strategies in alleviating poverty through agriculture development.
In his speech, Mohd Shafei also outlined fundamental elements for
eradication of rural poverty, among others the need to provide basic
infrastructure like decent housing, access roads, power and water supply.
He said that for Malaysia, it had to create a rural educational
infrastructure virtually from nothing and this was still in progress, because there were still too many homes without access to the Internet and this required considerable investment.
He said eradicating rural poverty would not be sucessful without developing the economic environment because economic activity not only had the potential to create wealth but increase spending power and the ability of individuals to make choices.
The minister said that the causes and or results of poverty, were
exemplified by a lack of personal power to influence or change the
conditions under which people lived.
Speaking to reporters later, Mohd Shafei said that in helping rural
communities and also in alleviating poverty among Malaysians, the government not only developed infrastructure but also provided loans, training and business opportunities to them.
He said the African countries that learned from Malaysia's experiences implemented what they had learnt in their respective countries, such as in emulating Federal Land Development Authority (Felda)'s success in palm oil planting.
Mohd Shafei said the government encouraged the Malaysian private sector to invest and do business in Africa as the continent was rich in various resources and human capital.
"Malaysian businessmen can't rely just on traditional markets," he said.
He said in 1957, the level of poverty in Malaysia as reported by the World Bank stood at well over 50 per cent.
Looking back at Malaysia's post-independence era from 1957, he said the country's economy, resource structure and industries were not really that much different from other less developed countries.
However he pointed out that the latest figures showed that the poverty rate had come down to below four per cent.
"Put in human terms, this means that there has been a sustained improvement in the quality of life especially in rural areas. In addition, our infant mortality and life expectancy rates, for example, now compare favourably with North America and Western Europe," he said.
Mohd Shafei said this when closing the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) Course themed "Sustainable Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation for African Countries - The Malaysian Experience", here Monday.
A total of 17 participants from Sub-Saharan countries namely Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia took part in the 15-day course, jointly organised by MTCP, JICA as well as the ministry's Institute for Rural Advancement (INFRA).
The course enabled the participants to understand rural development
policies, strategies and programmes in the context of Malaysian experiences and also a chance to learn strategies in alleviating poverty through agriculture development.
In his speech, Mohd Shafei also outlined fundamental elements for
eradication of rural poverty, among others the need to provide basic
infrastructure like decent housing, access roads, power and water supply.
He said that for Malaysia, it had to create a rural educational
infrastructure virtually from nothing and this was still in progress, because there were still too many homes without access to the Internet and this required considerable investment.
He said eradicating rural poverty would not be sucessful without developing the economic environment because economic activity not only had the potential to create wealth but increase spending power and the ability of individuals to make choices.
The minister said that the causes and or results of poverty, were
exemplified by a lack of personal power to influence or change the
conditions under which people lived.
Speaking to reporters later, Mohd Shafei said that in helping rural
communities and also in alleviating poverty among Malaysians, the government not only developed infrastructure but also provided loans, training and business opportunities to them.
He said the African countries that learned from Malaysia's experiences implemented what they had learnt in their respective countries, such as in emulating Federal Land Development Authority (Felda)'s success in palm oil planting.
Mohd Shafei said the government encouraged the Malaysian private sector to invest and do business in Africa as the continent was rich in various resources and human capital.
"Malaysian businessmen can't rely just on traditional markets," he said.
