1MALAYSIA People’s Aid (BR1M) recipients appealed to the Pakatan Harapan government to keep the programme, saying it was a lifeline to low-income families in these increasingly difficult times.
“The government should not cancel BR1M. We voted to change the government to protect the interest of the people,” said Norlela Ismail, 59, a single mother in Johor Baru who receives RM1,200 a year.
Norlela said she had convinced her friend to vote for PH in the general election, and the coalition’s decisions as the new government had so far been disappointing.
“Now everything is in a mess. The people are not protected, promises are not fulfilled. The rights of the people have been taken away.”
She said BR1M payments had helped with her household expenses and were especially handy when her kuih business was slow.
Hasnah Ibrahim, 67, said the cash handouts have made it easier to put food on the table when business at her food stall was slow.
Hasnah, who lives in Butterworth, Penang, has been a recipient since 2012.
“I live with my son and daughter-in-law and four grandkids in a flat. With seven of us, the BR1M money helps. We use it to buy food.
“It’s fine if the government cannot afford to give more. I know we have a big national debt. But there are many people who need the aid to get by,” she said.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently announced Putrajaya would gradually reduce the BR1M payouts before scrapping it altogether, saying the cash handout programme introduced by his predecessor Najib Razak had “spoilt” the people.
BR1M was introduced in 2012 and except for this year, the sums handed out have grown increasingly larger each yea.
Households earning below RM3,000 a month receive RM1,200, and those earning between RM3,000 and RM4,000 get RM900.
Those without dependents or unmarried earning RM2,000 and below receive RM450. A total , RM6.8 billion has been allocated for the 7.2 million recipients this year.
Soon after it took office on May 9, PH had announced that BR1M would be replaced by a new aid scheme called Bantuan Sara Hidup Malaysia (Cost of Living Aid). However, there has been no news of the scheme since.
An army man, who wished to have his name withheld, said that instead of axing the programme, the government should work at ensuring that only eligible Malaysians received the BR1M handouts.
“If necessary, the government can run checks to see if the recipients truly deserve the help or not. Maybe there are those who don’t.
“But what about the people who truly need the aid? We have to think about these people.”
For retiree Sam Yee, 70, from Penang, the plan to scrap BR1M was disappointing even if it came as no surprise.
He said he had expected Dr Mahathir to cancel it eventually because the latter had long been critical of Najib for introducing the aid.
“He had criticised Najib for giving BR1M. So now that he is back in government, he will surely scrap it. I expected this to happen,” said Yee, who is a pensioner.
He said as prices of goods are expected to continue rising, the government should try to alleviate the burden of the elderly and low-income earners, adding that medications should at least be provided free for retired civil servants.
“Now if the medicine is too expensive, the hospital tells you to buy it ourselves first and then make claims from the pension department.
“With BR1M, at least I have some extra money to buy medicine.” – August 28, 2018.
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Comments
Posted 7 years ago by KC Yip · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Mikey Cheng · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Adrian Kok · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply
BRIM is state sponsored corruption. Food bought with BRIM is non-halal.
Posted 7 years ago by Ujong Medini · Reply
The people cited in this article undoubtedly need government aid, and BR1M helped alleviate their troubles. I dont agree with BR1M since it was an obvious bribing policy by BN. And policy wise, cash handouts is a terrible idea since we cant make sure if the money is spent on essentials, or just to joli katak with.
The fed govt should change it to food stamps instead, if buying groceries is found to be the main issue.
Posted 7 years ago by Aziff Azuddin · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Mikey Cheng · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply
Br1m sole purpose is to help B40 to lessen the cost of living after subsidies of fuel, essential food items are withdrawal..the portion of money save from subsidies is being channelled to pay Br1m...i dont any thing wrong for the govt to extend its helping hand to help rakyat...Br1m do not encourage people not to work..in fact the amount is too small to help rakyat to live solely on Br1m alone, therefore, DrM arguement is flaw...
Posted 7 years ago by Sweesing lee · Reply