“It is right that BR1M should be given to the people. It’s not bribery. It is the people’s right to have it.
“If the people are qualified to get any sort of help from the government, then it should be given to them,” she told reporters during a press conference at PKR headquarters here today.
Mahathir had said on Sunday that BR1M handouts were tantamount to corruption and was therefore illegal, or could even be considered a crime.
Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have since slammed Mahathir over the remark, with Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak saying that perhaps the former prime minister did not know the difference between aid and corruption.
Meanwhile, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said the people should be educated on BR1M, and be made aware that accepting cash aid from the government was not an obligation to vote for BN.
“We must educate the people that this is an economic policy presented by the government in order to solve poverty. The people must think how far such a policy can solve the current economic crisis.”
Khalid was of the opinion that perhaps Mahathir was misunderstood in his statement.
“Don’t feel obliged to vote for BN if you are receiving BR1M. That’s what I think Dr M is trying to say.
“You don’t vote for the government because of BR1M. If the rakyat accepts BR1M and feels that they are obliged to vote for BN, then it becomes a bribe.”
Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong shared similar sentiments, saying that what Mahathir meant in his statement, was that BR1M could not be an economic policy.
“Unfortunately, the government thinks that BR1M is an economic policy for the ordinary and the poor. But it’s not for the poor alone, it’s for 60% of the population.
“BR1M should have been an overall economic policy to help the bottom 60%.”
Liew said it was important to have a holistic and inclusive economic policy by the government for the people.
“The logic is that you need a holistic economic policy. You cannot just substitute BR1M as your only economic policy.”