Poverty mapping and identifying the hard-core poor and poor group using geographical information system

Abstract

Poverty reduction is the main agenda of sustainable development in most developing countries. In Malaysia, problems of poverty are addressed through various strategies and programs of the New Economic Policy (1971-1990), National Development Policy (1991-1999) and the National Vision Policy (2000-2010). Currently, Malaysia implements the National Transformation Policy (NTP), in order to move towards a high-income country. Various efforts have been undertaken by the government to overcome the poverty problem with significant success. However, poverty still persist in some states, including the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) comprising of three major east coasts of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang. This study aims to identify the characteristics of hard-core poor and poor in the state of Terengganu through poverty mapping. The study uses secondary data from the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) via e-Kasih portal system consisting of 368 heads of household of the hard-core poor and 7219 poor households in Terengganu registered during the period from 2008 to August 2011. This study used ArcGIS software to map the locality of the hard-core and poor households. The result indicates that the poor are mostly concentrated poverty in Besut and Kuala Terengganu the state capital of Terengganu. Overall, unfavorable characteristics like lower education, more family members and, engage in low paying jobs provide challenges to government agencies to provides proper assistance to them. Policy implications will be discussed to improve the successful implementation of poverty alleviation programs through economic transformation to drive the country to achieve a high income nation, improve the quality of life of people and sustainable development in the state of Terengganu.