CONFRONTING URBAN POVERTY WITHIN
THE B40:
TOWARDS AN BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE MALAYSIA
FOR ALL BY 2020
Partners in co organising the
National Dialogue namely the Institute of Ethnic Studies, UKM; Yayasan
Pemulihan Sosial (YPS), ASLI Centre for Public Policy
Studies & Global Movement of Moderates
Dates: August
4 & 5, 2015
Time: 2 to 6pm (on both days just the
afternoons)
Venue: Global Movement of Moderates (GMM), 15th Floor, Menara
Manulife, No. 6, Jalan Gelenggang, Damansara Heights, KL
The
Eleventh Malaysia Plan has rightly identified key strategies in addressing the
needs, concerns and issues of the Bottom 40% (B40) in Malaysian society. There
are about 2.7 million households in the B40 of whom 44% are in the rural where
else 56% are in the urban areas.
These
families have a collective household income of about RM 2,537.00 a month and
below. Within this category of the B40 are the vulnerable poor who are identified as families with incomes between
the Poverty line income and 2.5times PLI. In addition there are the aspirational poor who are families with
income between 2.5 times the PLI and the national mean income
We are
also told that of these 68% are bumiputras and the remaining 32% are non bumi’s.
There is therefore an urgent need for a national strategy and national
taskforce in addressing effective the needs, concerns and issues of the urban
poor with the B40
Five major
questions for the national dialogue is seeking answers and ensuring effective
targeting, delivery and people empowerment at the grassroots
- · Public policies: Is there a neglect on urban poverty?
- · Crime, violence & dysfunctional families: Are these the root causes?
- · National unity and social cohesion: Is there an impact on ethnic relations and harmony at the neighbourhood level
- · Local government & delivery of services: Is the absence of local democracy a reason for weak delivery
·
11th
Malaysia Plan strategies: How to ensure the urban poor can experience social
inclusion?
Some
critical questions for our review:-
“What are some real causes of
Poverty? Are they not low education, poor education, unemployment illness, incapacity,
poor productivity etc? Are there structures issues as well? Is this not due to
Government neglect to extend its services to the real poor? Is it the lack of
adequate focus and coordination of Government services that are now so
dispersed and weak? Is it not the way the poor have to be classified into
Categories of Capacity to rescue from Poverty and Low Incomes? Would the use of
the old Tun Razak Red Book and Operation Room technique, to win the War against
Poverty!”
The output
of these national dialogues is a policy paper to the Prime Minister on ensuring
the urban poor who are part of the B40 have equal opportunities in access to
the programs and provisions for their social mobility.
Our call
is for a special blue print on addressing the needs, issues and concerns of the
urban poor B40 and the establishment of a special unity/taskforce in the PM
office or Department to ensure effective coordination and delivery
NATIONAL DIALOGUE ONE:
CONFRONTING URBAN POVERTY WITHIN THE
B40: TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE AGENDA BY 2020
Date: August 4, 2015 (Tuesday)
Time: 2.00pm to 6pm
Venue: GMM, Conference Room, KL
Program
2.00pm Registration & Coffee
2.30pm Welcome & Session 1 Public
policies: Is there a neglect on urban poverty in developing planning?
Moderator:
Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (GMM)
Panel
Speakers:
·
EPU
representative
·
Mr
Fabian Bigar NKRA Director on Low Income Households (Pemandu)
·
Dr
Muhammed Abdul Khalid (Kazanah Research)
·
Prof
Dr Mahendhiran Nair (Monash University)
4.00pm Session 2 Crime, violence & dysfunctional
families: Are these the root causes or manifestations of urban poverty?
One of the
key issues in the urban hot spot neighbourhoods are issues pertaining to crime,
violence, drugs & alcohol abuse. This aspects are not often recognised as
manifestations of urban poverty needing comprehensive intervention in
addressing social support and soicakl control systems in the neighbourhoods.
Panel
speakers will review the initiatives so far and point out directions for the 11th
plan period so as to effective confront the root causes for anti-social and
crime behaviour.
Moderator: Tan Sri Michael Yeoh (ASLI)
Panel
speakers
·
PDRM
Bukit Aman
·
Dato
Dr Amir Khan, the NKRA Director on Crime (Pemandu)
·
Tan
Sri Lee Lam Thy (Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF)
·
Mrs
Jasmine Adaickalam (C Codes)
·
Dr
Sundramoorthy from USM
5.30pm Concluding Remarks: 11th Malaysia
Plan strategies: How
to ensure the urban poor can experience social inclusion? Drawing lessons for
the two sessions By: Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (KITA-UKM)
NATIONAL DIALOGUE TWO:
CONFRONTING URBAN POVERTY WITHIN THE
B40: TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE AGENDA BY 2020
Date: August 5, 2015 (Wed)
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Venue: GMM Conference Room, KL
Program
2.00am Registration
2.30am Welcome & Session
3 Urban
Poverty and Social Cohesion: Is there an impact on ethnic relations and harmony
at the neighbourhood level?
Moderator Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (GMM)
Panel
Speakers
Mr Ho Khek
Hua (IKLIN-JPNIN)
Mrs
Jasmine Adaickalam (C Codes)
Mr Teo Ai
Hua (Malaysian Association of Social Workers
Prof Suresh (University Malaya
& Friendship Group- Sai Baba Services)
Dr. Wan Puspa Melati (School of
Communication Studies, Segi University)
4.00 Session 4 Local government & delivery of
services: Is the absence of local democracy a reason for weak delivery,
accountability & efficiency
Moderator Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam (ASLI- CPPS)
Panel
Speakers:
Representative
from Ministry of Housing & Local Government
Ms Cynthia
Gabriel (MBPJ Councillor & C4 - Centre To Combat Corruption And
Cronyism)
Mr Jeffry
Phang (UTAR & Residents association)
Mr K.
Arumugam (Tamil Foundation & Former councillor)
Dr Wong Chin Huat (Penang
Institute)
5.30pm Concluding Remarks:
11th Malaysia Plan strategies: How to ensure the urban poor can experience
social inclusion? – Drawing lessons for the two sessions.
By:
Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (KITA-UKM)
