SINTOK: The government needs to be careful in giving out the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) a second time as there are certain parties misinterpreting and twisting the gesture, said Kedah Umno Liaison deputy chairman Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir.
“There are people already saying that. They said the first time was to ease the people’s burden but a second time means something else.
They should actually be thankful for it,” he told reporters after opening the Jerlun Economy Discourse here yesterday. He said in his parliamentary constituency of Jerlun, more than 25,000 households with incomes below RM3,000 had received BR1M.
Mukhriz, who is also International Trade and Industry deputy minister explained that, “Each time people spend, businesses profit and pay taxes to the government and the cycle goes on. The whole idea is to stimulate the country’s economy.”
Over at Kota Baharu, political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh said the proposal to distribute another round of BR1M by the government is actually proof of the country’s current economic strength.“All this is due to the country’s harmony which benefits the people in the form of gifts like BR1M,” he told reporters after handing over aid to the eight victims of a fire at Wakaf Che Yeh, here yesterday.
All eight victims of the fire which occurred on Feb 2 received between RM3,000 and RM5,000 each totalling RM41,000.
Several days ago, deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that a suggestion had been made to the government to distribute the BR1M again. Fatmi informed that 92 percent of Kelantan households had received the first round of BR1M.
“This proves the government cares as it gave out BR1M to all those who were eligible, regardless of political differences,” he said. — Bernama