National Summit on urban poverty and low-income groups is a timely event critically needed, to boldly analyse the challenges and concerns encountered by the said target group especially at the wake of the current upsetting factor called ‘price hike’ that has a far reaching effect by way of throwing these families out of balance.

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Who constitutes the urban poor is a good contextual way of assessing the situation and seriousness of urban poverty in any country. Urban dynamics is an aggressively moving dynamics. There is every chance that today’s ‘haves’ becoming the tomorrow’s ‘have nots’. As many as the available ‘get rich quickly schemes’ in the urban centres, the sudden jump into impoverishment, lack of critical and essential things in life also can encroach and stalk into some one’s life quite stealthily and lethally.

However, the crux of the matter is, if our ignited thoughts on this issue of urban poor and low-income families spur us to action and result oriented strategies in order to forcibly get hold of the multiple horns of this ugly headed monster called urban poverty and start alleviating and addressing the miseries of the said target group with steadfast determination and commitment, I would think that we are moving towards somewhere. Or else it might just end to be another session in rhetoric and melodramatics.

The Ugly Headed Monster with Multiple Horns

Why is the urban poverty equated to an ugly headed monster with multiple horns? It is simply because this phenomenon called, ‘urban poverty’ is multi-dimensional and complex in nature. The urban poor families not only are at disadvantageous position because of their income levels, either due to the lack of it or because of the disparity of it. Their issues are compounded with other critical factors that go many a times unnoticed and unaddressed.

Captive or poverty mindset, lack of or lop-sided awareness and knowledge on their rights and responsibilities, lack of psycho-social preparation to creatively and innovatively face new emerging challenges and adversities, lack of access to alternate options and opportunities, lack of information on available options and opportunities to plug into, the emerging culture of crime and violence, distortion in family values and the mounting day-to-day pressures that break the hinges of the vehicle called family that results in an alarmingly increasing number of single-parent led families and the subsequent adverse effects and impact on parenting styles, can be termed as some of these many horns of this ugly monster called urban poverty.

The Commendable Efforts of the Government

The efforts of our good Malaysian Government in poverty alleviation are highly commendable. Or else we would not have reached the current Post Millennium Development Goals stage. But at the same time it is also not the time for us to sit on our laurels and be bemused at our past achievements. The role of the government is also gradually changing to that of an enabler, facilitator rather than just of the provider.

While looking into the issue of poverty and poverty eradication seriously, urban poverty needs more deliberations. This is where the participatory approach in involving the different stakeholders to act becomes key.

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Tri-partite Partnership Firstly, in order to create a community safety net this tri-partite partnership is obligatory. It should be a mandate for all. There are many ways one can look at this complex issue and arrive at diverse and multi-pronged urban poverty addressable system, which is a system that addresses the issue of the urban poor holistically. But to be more effective and efficient, all of us, those from the public sector, private sector and civil society organisations that represent effectively the community component need to get our cumulative purposeful act right.

Developing the EQ

Secondly, while we are trying to increase the income level of the urban poor and to reduce the income disparity between the intra and inter ethnic groups within Malaysia, through skills development and thereby creating knowledge workers, we need to build within the urban poor community the soft skills to develop their EQ as well.

This emotional strength alone can produce the necessary grit and tenacity within the urban poor to face issues objectively without giving into unnecessary emotional turmoil. This objectivity subsequently can engineer and refurbish a community that is cohesive and united at the face of adversities. A multi-discipline oriented poverty eradication approach is vital.

The Much Needed Community Initiatives

Thirdly, while target centred approach is currently used to aptly eradicate hardcore or absolute poverty by the year 2010, a more community oriented initiatives need to emerge in order to cushion the adverse impact on the vulnerable groups, that is those who are fence sitters or those at high risk of falling into poverty if there is a sudden loss or change in the family. Or else, the poor will always be there and we will be guilty of maintaining such pockets of poverty all the time.

Civil Society Organisations can be chosen as contractors to reach out and equip the urban poor community with the much needed soft skills and inter-personal skills, character development and so on. Performance measurement indicators can be set to assess the impact of such methods and programmes. Provisions can be made. But promotional exercises and empowering the poor to access such provisions should be looked into seriously.

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Analysing the Environmental Factors Fourthly, the urban poor issues need to be analysed in its environmental context as well. The urban poverty is also linked to and aggravated by environmental degradation. Lack of adequate housing, lack of social amenities that accelerate the holistic development of the youth and children, the poor transportation, lack of affordable health care are also issues that can further compound the situation. To resolve such matters improved and efficient urban governance is essential. This is where the developers and town planners should be more pro-poor in their outlook.

Capacity Building for One and All

Fifthly, there should be capacity building of the poor and the low income families. This alone will ensure the sustainability of the positive changes that are taking place in the lives of the poor. But capacity building of the poor alone may not solve the issue or bring about the transformation needed.

There should also be capacity building of those in civil service/public sector, the private providers of services and also the poor themselves. In order to achieve this and to cater to the multiple needs of the urban poor, there should be a poor focal point in every agency. This will make certain that consistently and simultaneously the different issues of the urban poor are addressed.

Conclusion

What with increasing urbanisation and the increase in the influx of people in the urban centres with either low or no skills, consciously a stronger social inclusion policy needs to be adopted to involve especially the urban poor who are located at the bottom 30% of the societal rung. The instance that we can create this perception that everyone is socially included; this perception itself can lead to a greater community cohesion and positive social interaction. This is where a well-coordinated and focused approach will be helpful in alleviating the issue called urban poverty before it elevates itself to demonic heights.

If this National Summit paves way to build a cohesive Malaysian society and design many more pro-poor policies that can assure the well-being of the urban poor and the low-income families, many of our hope and aspirations will be met. May God Almighty’s favour be with each and every one of us.

Excerpts from the Luncheon Talk Delivered by YBhg Dato’ Seri S Samy Vellu on 14 July 2008 at the National Summit on Urban Poor & Low Income Groups jointly organised by ASLI, CPPS & SUHAKAM at the Sunway Resort Hotel