Minister says multiple factors taken into account in vetting eligible individuals.

Only 19pct of EPF contributors have the basic savings level - Anwar Ibahim

Poverty line was RM2.2k in 2019.

Largely relying on the migrant workforce was keeping minimum wages low.

PARLIAMENT | Minister says current poverty criteria are being reviewed.

UPDATED 5.21PM | PARLIAMENT | Old value of RM980 is being used instead of RM2,208.

PARLIAMENT | He claims Putrajaya is politicising PLI calculations to make the country’s efforts in tackling poverty look good.

Analysis for the revision was done in 2019 and needs updating due to the pandemic, says an economist.

Poverty is a real, desperate lack of funds but for economic planners and politicians, poverty is just a numbers game.

With the poverty index now set at RM2,208, the minimum wage must also be adjusted accordingly, says MTUC.

Under the new poverty line, hardcore poverty is 14 times higher than previously acknowledged.

Starting salaries in public and private sectors fall below the new line, says Cuepacs president Adnan Mat.

Revised line means 5.6 percent of households now considered in poverty as of 2019

UPDATED 12.45PM | The latest poverty rate will be announced soon, says a minister.

Former UN special rapporteur Philip Alston claims then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had committed to revising the national poverty rate.

PARLIAMENT | Mahathir previously agreed on the need to adjust monthly household income of RM980.

MP SPEAKS | There is broad consensus that the manner in which poverty line income has been calculated needs to be reviewed.