He said the implementation coordination unit (ICU) of the prime minister’s department will update the database next year.

“The figures in the eKasih list are important for the government to help those in need, besides ensuring that no citizen eligible for assistance is left behind,” he said at a press conference today.

Mustapa said the move was in line with the government’s intention to eliminate hardcore poverty by 2025.

He said there were 506,669 individuals listed in the eKasih database as of Oct 22, of whom 244,037 were categorised as poor and 262,632 were under the hardcore poor category.

Mustapha, who was on a working visit to Sik district, visited recipients of the Kasih Ibu Darul Aman programme and met with the settlers of Felda Teloi Timur here.

He said the government also planned to implement a more holistic development programme in selected areas in states with large numbers of hardcore poor.

“The Kedah state government is proposing that we choose an area in Sik, where many are categorised as hardcore poor. We will then carry out a new (development programme) holistically and comprehensively,” he said.