Issues, Challenges and Strategies in Obtaining Reliable and Quality Livelihood and Wealth Data Across B40 Community in Malaysia

Abstract

Accurate information is vital in decision making. In poverty study, inaccurate, dishonest, incomplete, and misleading information especially related to income and wealth, disrupted the effectiveness of the analysis and the purpose the research. As a result, programs, strategies, and solutions implemented using the data to resolve problems and eradicate poverty will not be effective because it might not accurately reach authentic poor and extremely poor targeted groups. Therefore, researchers and enumerators must ensure the data is of high quality, well accurate and effective to prevent wrong decision making, including unethical behaviour and improper distribution of government grants and incentives. This study aims to investigate the issues and challenges in obtaining accurate, reliable, and quality livelihood and wealth data across B40 household in one district in Kedah, Malaysia. This data is important for the government to strategize the best way in helping them to improve their livelihood and reduce inequality of wealth. This study employed a qualitative research design and multi-method data collection including survey, physical observation, interview, and documents review. The respondents were heads and members of the household of B40 groups in this district. The data was analysed using a thematic analysis technique to transform the data into useful knowledge for strategies development. The main findings show that individual or household tend to provide incomplete, untrue, and enable government to develop appropriate poverty eradication policy as well as proper distribution of national wealth ecosystem in realizing Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, sustainability livelihood agenda; reach a high-income nation; and improve quality of live; consistent with SDG1 (No poverty).