Tonight Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says that BR1M is a transitional programme to replace blanket subsidies. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, April 28, 2015.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight defended Putrajaya's 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) programme, saying that criticism against the aid was inaccurate.
He said that the similar welfare programmes were carried out by many countries to help the needy, adding that BR1M was merely a transitional measure to replace blanket subsidies.
"I understand that BR1M has become a much-discussed topic. Hence, I should take the opportunity tonight to correct the misconceptions by certain quarters regarding this aid," Najib said in his speech at the launch of the Performance and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) Annual Report at Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur.
"In truth, BR1M is a targeted subsidy in the form of cash, given to those in need as the best approach Malaysia can take for now.
"Everyone should know, such welfare programmes are carried out by many countries in various forms and names, like education funds, health financial aid plans, welfare payments, and aid in the form of food coupons, and more."
The BR1M cash aid programme introduced by Najib some time before the last general election in 2013, has been severely criticised by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a form of "bribery" in order to win votes.
- TMI
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