BR1M allegations all 'lies and nonsense'

Allegations that the government misappropriated money allocated for fuel subsidies by paying for the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) are all “lies and nonsense,” said a minister today.

“About the BR1M payments, Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail’s allegations that the money was taken from allocations for fuel subsidies are lies and nonsense,” Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yacob (right) told reporters in Parliament House.

He explained that money for the cash aid was already approved under the heading B (11) of the 2012 Budget which was debated and passed by Parliament.

Holding a copy of the federal budget document, the minister read out the section on subsidies for petrol, diesel, liquified petroleum gas and cash aid.

“Cash aid in the budget referred to BR1M and the 1Malaysia Book Vouchers,” argued Ismail Sabri, adding that they have already been allocated for.

“The money was already allocated, only it was not enough as petrol prices rose. That is why we asked for extra allocation in the Supplementary Supply Bill,” he added.

Ismail Sabri said he was not able to answer Azan’s (left) allegations while winding up for his ministry in Parliament yesterday as he needed to refer to the budget allocations and details of subsidy expenditures which was specifically under the purview of the ministry of finance.

Ismail Sabri was responding to Azan’s claims that the government had misappropriated allocations meant for fuel subsidies, and is using it for BR1M payments, which he alleged was not specified in the 2012 Budget.