PUTRAJAYA, Dec 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said his administration could likely eradicate hardcore poverty by March next year, pointing to aggressive government assistance that he claimed has succeeded in reducing incidents of hardcore poverty to just 0.09 per cent.

“We are one of the countries in the world, unlike the US or Europe where homelessness is everywhere, we have managed to reduce the national rate of hardcore poverty to just 0.09 per cent,” Anwar said in a speech to cap this year’s Rancakkan Madani programme here.

“And I told public officers if it’s just 0.09 per cent this is small, which means we can end it by the first quarter of 2026,” the Tambun MP added.

Anwar has made the eradication of hardcore poverty one of his key agendas in government.

Households that earn less than RM1,169 a month are categorised as hardcore poverty while households in absolute poverty have an income of less than RM2,208.

Last year the prime minister said hardcore poverty had been totally eliminated in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan although some economists are sceptical of the claim.

Rancakkan Madani is a year-long programme meant to platform government policies.

Today marked the last day of this year’s event, during which Anwar cited economic growth, the ringgit’s appreciation, and the successful organisation of the 46th and 47th Asean Summit in the capital city as major landmarks of his administration.

He credited all ministers and civil servants for the achievements.