BR1M is not pharaonic, says Fatwa Council

The National Fatwa Council has rebutted the statement of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) cash handouts by the federal government is equivalent to the practice of Egyptian pharaohs.

The council chairperson Abdul Shukor Husin has told the English-language daily New Straits Times that BR1M is the government's responsibility towards the people, and such a practice is encouraged in the Islam faith.

"Besides, it (BR1M) was done with transparency and the money was given to the right people. The practice has been proven to alleviate the people's burden," he was quoted as saying.

During his speech at Pakatan Rakyat's fourth national convention in Shah Alam on Monday, Abdul Hadi had cited the Quran to say that BR1M is equivalent to thepharaohs' practice, which had been used in the past as a way to make the people stupid.

Abdul Shukor (left), however, argued that it is the duty of the government to distribute financial aid for the needy.

"It was not right for some quarters to have insulted those who have received the aid, as they deserved the money in order to lead a better life."

The mainstream media has been misquoting PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, alleging that he had described BR1M recipients as animals, whereas the revered leader had actually said that what the government gives is just leftovers (hampas).