Absolute poverty to be eradicated, BN vows in manifesto

GE15 | BN has vowed to eradicate absolute poverty through the introduction of an assistive basic income scheme if the coalition wins the 15th general election (GE15).

The assistive basic income scheme will see all households with a monthly income below RM2,208 automatically receive financial aid by the year 2025.

“This is a top-up or an additional monthly income to ensure all households nationwide have at least RM2,208 a month.

“In other words, after this, the incidence of absolute poverty will be relegated to history in Malaysia,” said BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the online launch tonight of the coalition’s manifesto for GE15.

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Other than that, he said they intend to give a two percent income tax cut for the M40 group, which refers to those earning between RM50,000 and RM100,000 per year.

To encourage women to return to the workplace, Zahid said they promised to introduce tax exemption for women for five years after their career break.

Needs-based policies

In their manifesto book, BN said they want to transition from race-based policies to needs-based policies.

“We seek to pursue moderation, parity and social justice by transitioning from race-based policy to needs-based policy, in addition to maximising the use of technology to increase the efficiency of welfare distribution and enhance the social protection agenda,” the manifesto read.

Part of this would include allocating RM10 million a year to provide travel vouchers to the disabled via e-hailing services.

BN also said they would provide one-off RM500 cash assistance to women who have just given birth and are also Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia recipients.

This is similar to an initiative mentioned in the now-defunct Budget 2023 that was tabled shortly before the dissolution of Parliament in early October.

The nation goes to the polls on Nov 19. - Mkini