“In rural villages, residents often have access to food sources and community support despite modest housing conditions, while those living in cities face significantly higher rental costs,” he told Bernama after the Jelajah MADANI Negeri Sembilan programme here today.

He said efforts to tackle poverty were not solely dependent on eKasih data but also involved on-the-ground engagement through initiatives such as Jelajah MADANI Negeri Sembilan to identify those in need of assistance.

Noor-Ihsan said close cooperation among government agencies, including the Social Welfare Department (JKM), the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and other relevant bodies, had facilitated the coordination of assistance through district-level mobile teams.

He said discussions at district-level meetings focused on assessing the needs of each household and determining the most appropriate form of assistance.

“If a family has members who are no longer able to work and depend entirely on JKM assistance, we will assess the potential of other family members, including those who have completed their studies but remain unemployed, and help them find jobs.

“If they are interested in starting a business, we can help them obtain the necessary licences and provide facilities such as burger stalls, which can generate a good income. They can also attend short courses on food handling,” he said.

He said the income-generating initiatives were tailored to the interests and capabilities of recipients, while salaries were determined by the companies offering employment.

Meanwhile, Noor-Ihsan said efforts to address poverty had been further strengthened by setting fixed targets as key performance indicators (KPIs) for each district.

He said the state's January 2025 KPI called for a reduction of 5,975 poor households, with four districts, namely Rembau, Jelebu, Tampin and Port Dickson, having achieved their respective goals and three others expected to follow suit soon.

Noor-Ihsan said district offices were also required to meet specific KPIs, including regularly monitoring identified households to ensure assistance reached those in need more effectively.

He said such monitoring was crucial to determining whether recipients’ financial circumstances had improved or whether further assistance was needed to prevent them from slipping back into poverty.

--BERNAMA