Local knowledge of poverty eradication programmes in Malaysia: The case of the Iban community in the District of Song, Sarawak

The less-than satisfactory participation of the local community in a Malaysian poverty eradication programme has a close link with their low level of information about the programme. This study aims at identifying the level of knowledge of the Iban community who were also the aid recipients targeted by the People’s Welfare Development Scheme (Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat - SPKR) in the district of Song, Sarawak. The knowledge aspects examined involved general information on the SPKR, objectives of the SPKR and the programme components of the SPKR. Using questionnaires, this study interviewed 260 household heads at the longhouses. As a whole, the findings revealed the majority of the Iban people in the study area who were still in the dark about which ministry the activities under the SPKR were organized, the objectives of the programme, and the components of the programme . The obvious implication is that the Ibans’ knowledge of such poverty eradication programmes needs to be enhanced before they can even be motivated to participate fully in the programme and make it a real success at the longhouses.