ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Azmin Ali said the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) payout introduced by the previous Barisan Nasional government was a form of “bribe” meant to earn political support from the people.

He said he agreed with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the cash aid be weaned off and eventually done away with.

“PM is strict about stopping any cash aid to influence political support. This has elements of bribery involved to garner people’s support.

“Giving cash aid needs to be stopped because it has an element of corruption to get political mileage,” Azmin told reporters after opening the Perak PKR general assembly in Ipoh.

The PKR deputy president said Putrajaya was studying ways to remove the cash aid and put in place a more feasible mechanism.

“I believe the PM and cabinet are designing a new approach and initiative which we will discuss in Parliament in October. We want to empower the people, not make them stupid,” Azmin said.

He added among the initiatives being considered were those undertaken in Selangor during his time as menteri besar.

“I have experience in Selangor where we did not influence (sogok) the people with cash. What we did was to provide them avenues like micro credit loans,” Azmin added.

Dr Mahathir in an interview with The Malaysian Insight had said Putrajaya will reduce BR1M payouts before ending it.

The prime minister had also accused the Najib Razak administration of spoiling the people by giving them free money.

Najib has retorted that the Pakatan Harapan government was punishing the poor by removing BR1M and that he was concerned about the country’s growing economic disparity. – August 26, 2018.