Kuala Lampur, Aug. 25 -- The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has urged the government today to not sweep the truth under the carpet with regards to the United Nations' (UN) findings on poverty in the country.

Its secretary-general J. Solomon said the government ought to take the remarks by UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston seriously, as the national poverty line of RM980 per month is ridiculous, especially for urban areas.

"Poverty is uniquely connected to different causes, which could result in dire consequences if the government does not address it truthfully," he said in a statement.

Alston had said on Friday that official figures on poverty were vastly inaccurate and did not reflect real...