Dr M: Stop BR1M handouts

He said Malaysians "rarely appreciate" things given for free "including BR1M".

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) need not to be continued in the Budget 2014 in a bid to reduce the people’s dependency on the government.

Instead, he said the government should find a way to train the people, especially the underprivileged, with certain skills that could become their source of income.

“We rarely appreciate the things we get for free, including the BR1M.

“That is why it should be given only to hardcore poor and those with disabilities,” he told reporters after speaking at ‘An Evening With Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’ programme here yesterday.

He said this when asked about his suggestions for the Budget 2014, scheduled to be tabled by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Oct 25.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia’s economy would not suffer major impact following the United States (US) government shutdown as the bilateral trade between the two countries had declined over the years.

“More or less, the effect will be felt, but our trade is not with the US alone,” he said.

The US government went into a partial shutdown as lawmakers missed the deadline to pass a budget amid differences in Congress over how to deal with President Barack Obama’s health care programme.

-Bernama