BR1M recipients protest against claims RM500 is corruption

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KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition can take a hike!

1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) recipients have vehemently denied opposition claims that the RM500 assistance under the programme is an inducement to buy votes in the 13th General Election.

Among BR1M target groups with income below RM3,000 are single mothers and pensioners who felt the opposition wanted them to feel guilty for accepting what it alleged were bribes.

“They could be hoping we will vote them to purge our sin for accepting corruption. They can take a hike. They have never helped us and now they want to shoot their mouth off,” said recipient Aminah Saad, 60, single parent to four children, including one who is handicapped.

A pensioner, who wanted to be known only as Pakcik Murad, said he recalled stories from his family on how the opposition had asked them to accept aid from Barisan Nasional (BN) but vote the opposition to avoid becoming receivers of corruptions.

He lashed out at the opposition for repeating similar stories to manipulate the sincere help of the government to its advantage so that the people would hate the government.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had clarified that the RM500 was not corruption but the people’s money which were returned to the needy.

Ustazah Rajaah Abd Hamid, 65, of Bandar Tun Razak, said she was touched by the aid which helped meet the needs of her six children, including a special child.

“BR1M is a special gift. I hope it can be continued,” she said, admitting she was not influenced by the opposition’s accusation of corruption.

Her friend, Norritah Mahmud, 63, also a single mother with a special child, said the opposition would always deride the government’s good intention to put the people in an awkward position.

“I know how to be thankful and know how to show it. I know opposition supporters who received the RM500 but continue to attack the government,” she said, describing an analogy of a dog which bit the hand of its master who fed it.

Nordin Che Wan, 65, a Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka retiree, said he would not be angry if he did not get the BR1M aid.

“I feel there are others who may need it more. The government has been helping the people a lot, in terms of economy, health, education and social.”

A Kuala Lumpur City Hall pensioner, Md Shah Abd Ghani, 65, hoped his application for BR1M aid would be approved.

“I want to spend the money on my children and save some in Tabung Haji. It is untrue that the aid is an inducement to get my vote,” he said.

A die-hard BN supporter, Abd Aziz Zainal, 79, of Bandar Tun Razak, said despite the opposition accusation, he thought the aid was sincere.

The father of eight, who gets a RM900 pension, told Bernama that BR1M was the BN Government’s best aid and he was keen to apply for it.

Meanwhile in KLANG, BR1M recipients view the RM500 as necessary assistance for the needy.

Pensioner Kwan Kok Cheong, 54, said the charge of corruption was not apt because BR1M enabled the needy to buy the essentials for the family.

“We know the government has helped a lot, in terms subsidies and the like…thus, giving cash once in a while is good. Such aid need not be done often, maybe once, every two to three years, is sufficient,” he said when met after receiving BR1M in the Sementa state constituency here today.

He said BR1M was the national revenue returned to the people by the government.

Ex-Pas member Khusrin Rahmat, 68, said the allegation that the government was giving corruption through BR1M was illogical because it was a way of returning the people’s right entrusted to the government.

“What is important is intention. BR1M is to help those in need. So, it is a good transformation by the Barisan Nasional. I feel BN must do more similar programmes like this and ensure the people’s representatives visit their constituencies,” he said.

This opinion was shared by L. Saravanan, 33, who said low and medium income groups were all for BR1M.

Meanwhile, Sementa State Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil said viewing BR1M as a form of corruption was inappropriate.

“Such issues should not arise because the aim of the government is to help the people,” he said.

A total of 3,200 people received BR1M in the Sementa constituency’s fourth phase in handing over the aid today. To date, 6,000 in Sementa have received BR1M. –Bernama