LABUAN — The Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies (UAC) at Universiti Malaya (UM), in collaboration with the Labuan Faculty of International Finance (FKAL) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSKAL), has launched a strategic initiative aimed at eradicating hardcore poverty on the island at UMSKAL on Saturday.
The Hardcore Poverty Eradication Program: Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Labuan, which spans from September 2023 to December 2025, involves 64 participants who have received business equipment assistance to boost their income-generating activities.
UAC Advisor Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government remains committed to easing the people’s burden through various initiatives, including the Rahmah Sales program and subsidies, to support low-income groups.
However, he urged the participants to be proactive in improving their livelihoods.
“The government is continuously working to alleviate the people’s burden, but program participants must also strive to break free from the cycle of poverty and not rely permanently on government aid,” he said when officiating the closing ceremony here recently.
The participants have undergone structured human capital development, including training in building online business platforms and other specialized skills courses.
Under this strategic partnership, UMSKAL serves as the implementing consultant responsible for conducting participant profiling, monitoring progress, and delivering the online business platform training courses.
Earlier, UAC Director Datin Sri Professor Dr. Suhaiza Hanim Datuk Mohamad Zailani delivered the welcoming address at Central Lecture Hall 1, UMSKAL.
The program aims to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the Hardcore Poverty Eradication Initiative (IBMT) using the MPI approach.
Additionally, it serves to collect welfare data to support the MyMPI+ system developed by UAC, while raising public awareness about the importance of multidimensional poverty measurement in formulating inclusive and sustainable development policies.
The event featured briefings by Dr. Sayed Mohammad Reza Yamani Sayed Umar on Assessing Hidden Household Deprivation in Labuan: A Multidimensional Poverty Perspective, Dr. Suzillah Sidek on Hardcore Poverty Among Youths, and Samsulbahri Mohd Nasir on Entrepreneurship Among the Hardcore Poor.
The program involves cooperation from multiple agencies, including the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM), Labuan Corporation, National Security Council (MKN), Labuan Industrial Training Institute (ILP), Labuan Training Centre, Giatmara, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health.
Also present were UMSKAL Director Professor Dr. Shamsul Bahari Shamsudin, FKAL Deputy Dean (Academic and International) Dr. Ricky Chia Chee Jiun, Head of the Financial Economics Program and Labuan Multidimensional Poverty Coordinator Dr. Nur Shahirah Azman, and Program Director Muhammad Najib Chong.
