Don’t accept BR1M if it’s considered ‘dedak’, says Najib
Umno president defends BR1M, saying it is financial aid for those struggling to make ends meet, and not “dedak” or a ploy to buy votes.
KUALA LUMPUR: Those who do not agree with the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) initiative should not accept the financial aid, says Umno President Najib Razak.
In his winding up speech at the Umno general assembly, Najib, who is also prime minister said BR1M was not a form of “dedak” as claimed by some nor a ploy to buy votes, but rather to help those who were struggling financially.
“If someone does not want BR1M, then don’t accept it, it’s not a problem. Now the BR1M payout has been increased to RM1,200.”
BR1M was first introduced in 2012 with an initial sum of RM500 for households that earned RM3,000 and below.
In 2013, more than RM2.5 billion was distributed to Malaysians through BR1M, benefiting 5.7 million households.
Najib said next year, the BR1M payout would be made in three stages throughout the year in accordance with the wishes of Umno delegates.
In his Budget 2017 speech, Najib announced that RM6.8 billion had been allocated to various recipient groups under the BR1M scheme.
For the e-kasih group, the BR1M rate will be increased to RM1,200 while for households with incomes between RM3,000 to RM4,000, BR1M will be increased to RM900.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram
For individuals earning RM2000 or less, they will be eligible for as much as RM450 next year, compared to RM400 this year.