Don't punish the poor by removing BR1M, Najib tells Dr Mahathir

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 7 years ago · Published on 25 Aug 2018 4:11PM · 9 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak has slammed Dr Mahathir Mohamad's revelation that BR1M will be removed gradually, saying that the Pakatan government is reneging on its electoral promise and punishing the poor. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 25, 2018.

PAKATAN Harapan (PH) has broken yet another of their election promises by announcing they will do away with the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) payouts, said former prime minister Najib Razak.

Najib said he saw no wrong in giving Malaysians the cash aid as it is simply distributing the country’s income.

“What is wrong if we take money from the rich and those who run away to pay those who are poor?

“Did PH forget that they promised to continue BR1M in their manifesto? Why are you going back on your promise and punishing the poor,” Najib said in a statement today.

He was responding to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s interview with The Malaysian Insight, where the prime minister had said Putrajaya will reduce BR1M payouts before weaning it out altogether.

Dr Mahathir had also accused the Najib administration for “spoiling” the people by making them think that without doing any work the government will give them money.

“Now we cannot give them the money because we are not stealing the money, but they still want the money (BR1M),” the prime minister had said.

Najib, however, dismissed allegations from Dr Mahathir that the money for BR1M was “stolen” to “buy over the people”.

“Isn’t it odd that BN ‘stole’ the money from the people only to return it to them later as cash aid?

Najib, who is also Pekan MP, said the money for BR1M payouts came from the subsidies and revenue from the goods and services tax (GST), and it was not used for political gain.

“We gave it to families based on their monthly income. It did not matter to us which party they supported,” he said.

He said BR1M would be key to reducing the income disparity between rich and poor Malaysians.

“This money is returned to the B40 group. This was from the GST revenue as the Malaysian economy grew.

The former Umno president added this cash aid would be essential especially now, as Malaysia was predicted to go through a rough economic patch.

“Several analysts have predicted Malaysia will be in an economic struggle or crisis soon.

“Palm oil and rubber prices have dropped after the 14th general election. This is when the poor should be helped, not punished,” he said.

BR1M was introduced in 2012 and the amounts were increased yearly. This year, however, there was no increase. Households earning below RM3,000 a month will receive RM1,200, while those earning between RM3,000 and RM4,000 will receive RM900.

Single individuals earning RM2,000 and below will continue to receive RM450. In total, RM6.8 billion was allocated in this year’s budget for the 7.2 million recipients.

After Pakatan Harapan took over federal power in GE14, it announced that BR1M would be replaced. Dr Mahathir had then said the mechanism for the new aid, called Bantuan Sara Hidup Malaysia (Cost of Living Aid), will be totally different from BR1M.

There, however, has been no further announcement on the new mechanism.

The third stage of the Cost of Living Aid 2018 payment was paid before the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration. The payment, involving an allocation of RM1.6 billion, was paid out to almost 4.1 million recipients.

Najib also warned that Malaysia’s disparity would widen to the levels during Dr Mahathir’s first rule as PM if something was not done about the cash aid. – August 25, 2018.

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Comments

  • Najib Please don't talk rubbish! You're in no position to tell Dr Mahathir what to do as we Malaysians have lost respect of you.

    Posted 7 years ago by Jordan Lee · Reply

  • This lanun is using reverse psychology to stirr shits. He knows that nobody is listening and he has to go all out even if the country is burning to save his p#$%$ pinky skin. He needs to be haul up immediately without any more thoughts and expedite his trial. Once convicte let's proceed with the due capital punishment and hang him on the day itself. Malaysia will not miss any one population less with him gone and later on with all his scumbags terminated as well. The country needs less of the heinous groups and a breath of fresh air to recuperate.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Just return back all the money you & your gang & family stole from the country....and we will be great again sooner...just shut up & do that you kleptocrat

    Posted 7 years ago by Lakshmi Ganthan · Reply

  • You are the one that bankrupted this country and made your own kind poor and uneducated.Don't talk nonsense now , you are a scum and should be behind bars for the billions you stole.

    Posted 7 years ago by CY W · Reply

  • Our nation is over a trillion ringgit in debt not to mention tens of billions misappropriated thanks to his desperation and recklessness in playing Santa Clause. Instead of exercising prudence, you have committed our nation to hundreds of billions in mega projects signed with foreign countries with on lop sided contracts and highly questionable payment schedules. You have spent money you do not have, money meant for refund of GST and Taxes, and you dare to ask Tun not to punish the poor? The poor are still getting aid but seriously Najib, we need to ask who stole a hundred billion from our national coffer under the guise of an Arab donation?

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • Can you just shut up!

    Posted 7 years ago by Nozie Sulaiman · Reply

    • Agree!

      Posted 7 years ago by CK Looi · Reply

  • First wait for due process of the law, with concrete proof as required under our legal system..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • It is ok to replace BR1M with a needs-based system, for people really in need..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply