A/HRC/44/40/Add.1 low line for a country on the cusp of attaining high-income status.4 However, during the course of the visit officials consistently claimed that poverty had been virtually eliminated, with only “pockets” remaining. 7. The use of a very low and entirely unrealistic poverty line obscures the more troubling reality that millions of people, in both urban and rural areas across the country, scrape by on very low incomes with tenuous access to food, shelter, education and health care, and limited ability to exercise civil and political rights. 8. Denying the scale of poverty has exacerbated the problem by justifying significant underinvestment in poverty reduction, stymying research into and analysis of the drivers of poverty, encouraging a widespread misunderstanding of who is poor and allowing a fragmented, poorly targeted and inadequately funded social protection system to limp haplessly along. Non-governmental organizations have stepped in to fill the gap and provide much needed services to low-income people, but these admirable efforts are no substitute for official policies and action. Since the visit, economists, 5 political leaders, 6 academics, 7 the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia 8 and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, 9 have all voiced support for the adoption of a new poverty measure. 9. Following the release of the Special Rapporteur’s preliminary findings, leading politicians indicated their support for a poverty measure that better reflects reality. Although the Minister of Economic Affairs initially defended the poverty line, 10 then Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and his economic adviser acknowledged that the poverty measure should be adjusted, 11 while the President of the People’s Justice Party, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, called the current poverty rate “inaccurate” and said the Special Rapporteur’s findings were “only shocking to those who have a clear disconnect”. 12 In October, the Prime Minister said that the Government was ready to review the poverty line “to provide a true picture of poverty in Malaysia” 13 and in December, the Ministry of Federal Territories announced it would formulate an urban poverty eradication master plan for Kuala Lumpur, including a redefinition of urban poverty. 14 That consensus makes the new Government’s response all the more shocking. 10. While revising the poverty line is an essential step forward, additional reforms are necessary. 11. A better understanding of poverty in Malaysia reveals the inaccuracy of the mainstream narrative that poverty is largely confined to small numbers in rural areas and indigenous peoples. While those groups face dire and unique challenges, urban poverty is 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mid-Term Review of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan 2016–2020 (October 2018), ch. 11, p. 2. Kenneth Simmler, “An idea whose time has come – raising Malaysia’s poverty line”, The Star Online, 1 September 2019; Martin Ravallion, “Is the gov’t hiding millions of Malaysia’s poor?”, Malaysiakini, 3 September 2019. Maria Chin Abdullah, “Thinking about poverty in real terms”, Malaysiakini, 25 August 2019. “UN fact-finding mission on Malaysia’s poverty rate a wake up call for govt, says academic”, Star TV, 23 August 2019. “Use different index when measuring poverty, Suhakam tells govt”, FMT News, 1 September 2019. Jerry Choong, “MTUC demands Putrajaya reveal actual figures on poverty after UN study”, Malay Mail, 25 August 2019. “UN envoy challenges Malaysia’s claim to near zero poverty”, Associated Press, 24 August 2019. Kow Gah Chie and Wong Kai Hui, “Dr M concedes need to adjust poverty line”, Malaysiakini, 29 August 2019; Danial Dzulkifly, “Malaysia must face reality of its poverty level, says PM’s economics adviser”, Malay Mail, 27 August 2019. Bernama, “Anwar: reform caucus to hold seminar on Malaysia’s poverty rate”, New Straits Times, 24 September 2019; Allison Lai, “Anwar: we must acknowledge govt shortcomings”, The Star Online, 9 September 2019. Martin Carvalho and others, “Dr M: Govt ready to review national poverty line definition”, The Star Online, 7 October 2019. “FT Ministry to formulate master plan on poverty issues in Kuala Lumpur”, Malay Mail, 5 December 2019. 3