KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia) - AN OFFICIAL says Malaysia will scrap a rule that denies government welfare to poor people if they own a television set or cable connection at home.

Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil says the Welfare Department would introduce a 'more effective and realistic' system for providing aid. She says assets such as television and refrigerator are no longer an indication of wealth.

Her comments were reported on Monday by the New Straits Times daily.

An aide to Ms Shahrizat, who declined to be named citing protocol, confirmed the comments.

Ms Shahrizat's announcement follows a recent Times report that several disabled people did not receive aid after welfare workers found out they owned a television set. -- AP