The Covid-19 pandemic has inarguably set back efforts to eliminate poverty among Malaysian society. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the pandemic raised the incidence of absolute poverty to 8.4% in 2020, compared to 5.6% in 2019. The government has reiterated its commitment to tackle poverty and income inequality under the 12th Malaysia Plan, with the aim of eradicating hardcore poverty by 2025. But does the 12MP provide a sufficiently clear roadmap towards that aim? We discuss this with World Bank economist Ririn Salwa Purnamasari.

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