IPOH, Oct 22 — A study by Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR), conducted in conjunction with the Perak 2027 Budget, has found that employment opportunities have overtaken the cost of living as the main concern among Perakians.
IDR chief executive Dr Zulqarnain Mohamad said the shift reflected changing public perceptions of current needs, particularly efforts to improve living standards and socioeconomic well-being in the state.
“The shift also highlights the importance of creating more jobs to ensure people have a stable source of income and can improve their living standards,” he told a press conference after the IDR dinner with Perak media practitioners here last night.
He said various state government initiatives, including the Pasar Sejahtera Rakyat programme, had helped address the cost of living and positively impacted people at the grassroots level.
Zulqarnain said the study also found that 66.4 per cent of respondents considered their monthly income sufficient, while 58.7 per cent said they could set aside emergency savings.
The findings indicated a positive overall picture of household finances, although individual households had different financial capacities depending on their commitments and expenditure.
Zulqarnain said the study also assessed psychological capital to gauge public confidence in the future and the state government’s ability to improve living standards, with the latter scoring 3.96 out of five, reflecting positive views on Perak’s socioeconomic prospects.
“That confidence must be backed by sustained efforts from all parties, including the state government, to expand job opportunities, increase incomes and improve the well-being of the people of Perak,” he said. — Bernama