Perak government appoints Professor Sukor Kasim as adviser - NST

Oct 7, 2009

IPOH: Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) microcredit expert Professor Sukor Kasim will be appointed adviser and consultant to the Perak government in its bid to narrow income disparities in the state.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the appointment was important to enable the government to come up with the best approach to address this problem and poverty, especially hardcore poverty.

"We want them (experts) to come and be part of us, to advise us on the best mechanism and best policy to implement because many programmes had been announced before but nothing much had been done.

"Some of the announcements were mere announcements or populist moves to draw public support," he told reporters after chairing the State Executive Council meeting, here, Wednesday.


Asked on the duration of the appointment, Zambry said the state government would discuss it with Sukor and disclosed that the former Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) managing director had in principle agreed to be adviser and consultant to the Perak government.

Zambry said the state government would set aside a special allocation in the 2010 state budget to be tabled at the next state assembly sitting to address the stark income disparity problem.

He said the 2010 state budget would also include measures to make Perak a business-friendly and high-income state.

"Besides that, there will also be programmes for capacity building which, among others, are aimed at eradicating poverty, as well as programmes for the youths."

The state assembly sitting should be held by November the latest since the last one in May. - BERNAMA