KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir
Baharom yesterday said the giving of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) by the government was to ease the burden of the low income earners, and not a form of bribery as claimed by certain quarters.
He said the issue of BR1M being a form of bribery and did not conform to Islamic laws should not crop up as it (BR1M) was tabled and debated in parliament before it was approved under Budget 2014.
“This means the aid is not made at a spur of the moment, but through tabling of the budget and with the budget approved in parliament, there is no question of it as bribery to fish for votes or not in accordance with Islamic law,” he added.
He told this to reporters at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and the launch of Green Zone here yesterday.
YaPEIM was represented by its director-general Abibullah Samsudin, while USM by vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Omar Osman.
Jamil Khir said those who regarded the giving of BR1M by the government as a bribe were people who did not like efforts by the government to help the people.
“This time it is 3.0, meaning that it is the third time the government is giving the aid. If it is bribery, it is not like this.
“Those who relate it to bribery are disappointed with efforts by the government to help the people,” he added.
He said through BR1M, the country’s economy would continue to grow through expenditure and this would ensure cash flow in the country.
On the green zone, Jamil Khir said all Ar-Rahnu YaPEIM branches nationwide, as well as its headquarters, would adopt the green technology. — Bernama