NOT many people are happy with the new cost of living allowance (Bantuan Sara Hidup) which replaces the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) programme in Budget 2019, as it reduces the financial aid for them.

Retired soldier Abdul Rahman Harun, 52, said under the BSH scheme, he would only receive RM990 whereas he had received RM1,200 under BR1M during the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

With his monthly income of RM2,200, Abdul Rahman said the BHS financial aid was insufficient for him to manage his family which has two schoolgoing children.

“Under BR1M, I received RM1,200 but looking at the Budget 2019 announcement, I think I will only get RM990 now - this is the basic rate of RM750 because my monthly income is less than RM3,000 and RM240 for two school-going children,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“So, who says that we receive more than BR1M? The government should not confuse the people and play with low earners like us,” he added.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng in his Budget 2019 which he tabled in Parliament yesterday said the government can provide better assistanec to the B40 group under BSH as opposed to the BR1M programme.

Under the BSH scheme, households with a monthly income of RM2,000 and below will receive a grant of RM1,000, households with monthly income of between RM2,001 and RM3,000 will receive RM750, while households that earn from RM3,001 to RM4,000 will receive RM500.

The government will also give an additional RM120 for each child aged below 18, except those with disabilities or handicapped who are not limited to their age. Each  household is eligible to collect this benefit for a maximum of four children.

BR1M was introduced in 2012, providing a payment of RM500 to households making less than RM3,000 per month.

Last year, BR1M programme disbursed RM1,200 to households earning less than RM3,000, while households earning between RM3,000 and RM4,000 received RM900 each.

Another army pensioner, Shaik Alaudin Abd Gaffoor was also not happy with the reduced payment he would be getting under BSH.

He said he would only be receiving RM1,000 under BSH compared to RM1,200 under BR1M. 

He was also confused with the one-off RM500 payment to be given to pensioners who qualify.

 “So, who qualifies for this one-off payment? Do I need to show that I have been certified by the army medical board?,” he said. – November 3, 2018.