SERDANG: The two-day Cabinet retreat that takes place tomorrow and Thursday (Jan 17 and 18) is to find new ways to raise the economic strength of the country, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that although hardcore poverty has been eradicated in the Federal Territories and Negri Sembilan last year, there are still those who have slipped through the gaps.

"It does not necessarily mean that there will be no hardcore poverty this year," Anwar told the media after officiating the “AI for Rakyat” programme at Universiti Putra Malaysia here on Tuesday (Jan 16).

The Cabinet retreat, he said, is to look ahead at the implementation of various programmes and policies and to discuss taking more specific steps on issues such as energy transition, investments and digital existence.

“We want to look at new initiatives that will really strengthen the Malaysian economy.

“As for hardcore poverty, this has been done away with in the Federal Territories and Negri Sembilan for the year 2023. However, I heard there are some who fell through the gaps,” he added.

Anwar maintained that his priority remains on transforming the country.

“People are cynical about the issue of corruption ... we have to give a clear signal that we have had enough of this nonsense,” he said.

The two-day retreat in Cyberjaya, Selangor, will see the participation of all members of the Cabinet.

Last year, the ministers held a retreat in Sri Perdana, Putrajaya, to report on their ministry's performance in their first 100 days in office.

This week’s retreat will be the second held by the unity government since it took over Putrajaya in 2022.