Sultanate needs to fix poverty line

Rabiatul Kamit
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE absence of an established poverty line is hampering Brunei’s efforts to eradicate poverty, said a senior lecturer from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).

Speaking on the sidelines of a public talk on poverty in Muslim countries, Ustazah Hjh Rose Abdullah yesterday stressed the need for an official poverty threshold that will determine the number of people living in poverty in the Sultanate.

“Without the poverty line, we cannot identify who to include in the poverty data. How would we know who to help?” she said.

The senior lecturer explained that the different welfare bodies in Brunei use their own definition of poverty, resulting in varying statistics of people in need of assistance.

She said that, in contrast, a standard definition will ensure no one is overlooked.

A poverty line, widely used in other countries, estimates the minimum level of income an individual or family needs to live on. Those below the poverty line are classified as poor.

Besides the poverty line, she also highlighted the need for more research on the profile of people living in poverty. Ustazah Hjh Rose said such studies would help pinpoint factors that contribute to poverty, such as unemployment and disability.

“From there, you can lay out a good strategy to overcome poverty,” she said, urging the relevant parties to carry out further research on the profile of people deemed poor.

Despite the absence of an established poverty line, she acknowledged that the Brunei government is concerned about helping the poor with the formation of the Special Committee on Poverty Issues and the provision of increased welfare assistance.

Government agencies tasked to address poverty include the Community Development Department (JAPEM) and Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).

JAPEM offers training programmes, such as PERKASA, to empower individuals to become self-sufficient, while MUIB provides financial assistance for the poor as well as the PROPAZ programme to help zakat (alms) recipients to secure employment.

Ustazah Hjh Rose noted that a number of NGOs, including the Social Welfare Council (MKM) and Katakijau, also play an active role in helping the poor in Brunei.

The senior lecturer in her public talk also underscored the importance of adopting an Islamic approach to tackle poverty. She said that the poor should receive spiritual guidance alongside other assistance such as welfare benefits.

“Those with iman (faith) tend to be more motivated to break the cycle of poverty,” she said, citing an Indonesian study on how spirituality affects people afflicted with poverty.

Held at the Jubilee Hall on campus, the public talk also featured a presentation on financial literacy and its link to poverty delivered by Dr Kamaru Salam Yusof, Deputy Dean of the Business and Science Management Faculty at UNISSA.

The public talk on poverty in Muslim countries was organised by the Business and Science Management Faculty in conjunction with the university’s Fourth Mahrajan Hafl Al-Takharruj convocation ceremony.

Among those present were Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Datin Paduka Hjh Salbiah Hj Sulaiman and MKM goodwill ambassador Datin Hjh Norlina Dato’ Hj Abu Bakar.


Sumber - The Brunei Times