Eighty percent of the 6,500 residents of Beladin live in hardcore poverty, according to findings of a socio-economic survey by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

vwaishhnnavi letter to abu talib 060208 denison jayasooria Commissioner Denison Jayasooria told a press conference in Kuching today that the interviews covered 10 percent of the 1,200 households in Beladin Hulu, Hilir and Tengah.

The Malay fishing village, located in Pusa sub-district in Sarawak, was found to have a high dropout rate among primary and secondary students.

This contradicts reports from the Education Ministry which had indicated that the problem is not serious.

It is learnt that the state government is so concerned about the high dropout rate in coastal and rural schools that it had set up a special committee several years ago to look into the matter.

Denison also said there is also a need to upgrade healthcare services. Although there is a health centre in Beladin, people face difficulty getting certain drugs without a prescription.

A background report to the study cites other problems like low income of the fishermen, partly because fuel subsidies do not reach operators of small boats.

Farming on native customary rights land is shrinking because sites have been acquired by the government and Tabung Haji for oil palm cultivation without consulting or compensating landowners. Elderly villagers also lack welfare assistance.

Suhakam's role limited

The study uses the UNDP Millenium Development Goals as a benchmark for various indicators such as education, health, housing and poverty eradication.

It has been completed in four locations to date - including those in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur - and will cover four others in Kelantan and Kedah among others.

Denison said the government has drawn up many plans to improve livelihoods but that these have not been translated into action.

He said there is a need to create awareness of reality on the ground and for an integrated approach by all the government agencies involved in building community capacity.

Suhakam has held a meeting with more than 20 relevant state and federal government agencies to share its findings. A full report will be submitted to the government when the study is completed.

However, he could not give any assurance of action, saying that Suhakam’s role is restricted to data gathering and making recommendations.