DAP veteran politician Lim Kit Siang is planning to visit to Sabah to meet with an old foe, former chief minister Mohd Harris Salleh, to discuss the poverty issue in the state.

Lim was banned by Harris from entering Sabah due to political differences in 1984 during the latter’s stint as chief minister from 1976 to 1985.

Lim said however, he recently received a memorandum from Harris.

“I have received a memorandum on Sabah poverty from Harris Salleh.

“...Despite this very rocky history between us, I am prepared to listen to Harris’ view as to the most effective way to eradicate poverty, especially as it has become a very hot issue,” Lim said in a statement today.

The Iskandar Puteri MP is referring to the controversial claim by UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Philip Alston that Malaysia grossly misrepresented the poverty rate in the country.

Alston had claimed the figure was closer to 15 percent instead of 0.4 percent in 2016 as previously stated by the Malaysian government.

According to Lim, Harris, in his memorandum, stated that although Malaysia was successful in its programmes to elevate poor people such as Felda, this changed under “the last ten years under BN government”.

The former chief minister claimed poverty, particularly in Sabah, is still high, Lim said.

“Harris has prepared for Sabah a proposal for economic elevation of the rural and coastal communities.

“As Harris has established pilot projects for both areas (coastal and rural or interior) and invited me to visit them. 

"I am in principle prepared to visit Harris’ pilot projects, one in Balung, Tawau and the other in the Kuala Penyu district outside Kota Kinabalu,” he said.