Northern Region News November 06, 2009 19:03 PM Umno Wants Fresh Study On Hardcore Poverty In Penang KEPALA BATAS, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Penang Umno has called on the state government to carry out a fresh study to determine the number of poor families and hardcore poor in the state. Its secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said although the state government had declared that Penang had achieved its zero hardcore poverty target, there could be a new number of hardcore poor emerging due to the current economic sitution. "There may be an increase in the number of hardcore poor due to the economic situation, so I challenge them to carry out a fresh survey," he told reporters after launching Kampung Penanga 20's textile project here Friday. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng declared in April that the Penang government under his administration had successfully eradicate hardcore poverty. Azhar said that the state government had not carried out any follow-up study or census on the matter. "Hardcore poverty still exists in the state, especially in villages," he said, adding that the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department was carrying out its own study on hardcore poverty in the state. The study, which started five months ago, is expected to be completed by end of the year. -- BERNAMA