Najib: Harapan calls BR1M 'dedak' but also has it in its manifesto

Caretaker prime minister Najib Razak strongly defended the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), saying if the people wanted more, they should return BN as the ruling party in the coming 14th general election.

Najib said his administration dishes out the money "to care for the people", adding that never in history has the federal government provided BR1M to the people.

He then slammed the opposition for criticising BR1M.

"They say BR1M is dedak (chicken feed), that it is corruption but when they launched their manifesto, they also put it in.

"It's only been months and they have U-turned," Najib said, while a voice from the crowd shouted "senile!"

Najib asked what was wrong in helping people with BR1M, saying even in the United States, 45 million out of 300 million people are provided food stamps, which they exchange for food items at the supermarkets.

"Here, we pay it directly into your bank account," he added, with cheers from the crowd at a BN session with the people in Balik Pulau, Penang.

Najib reminded the crowd that he has increased BR1M by 100 percent, saying they will be receiving RM800 by June, in time for the Hari Raya, and another RM800 in August.

"Who gives it? Why do we give it? Because we are able to administer the country well," Najib said.

"Do you want more? Then let BN win (in this GE). What is so difficult about that? What do you get when you vote the opposition?

"You get floods, water (surcharge and tariff) increase, and in Selangor, you get buckets," he said to laughter.

"It's a wrong choice, really useless. You should place your hope in BN," Najib added.

In March, caretaker Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng insisted that the Harapan government would be able to continue paying the handouts even if it abolishes the GST, which was introduced in 2015. - Mkini