Najib Says Tun M is Punishing the Poor By Abolishing BR1M Payouts

Recently, Tun Mahathir made an announcement regarding the reduction and gradual removal of the BR1M payouts, and now, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul has branded Tun Mahathir as only advocating the rich.

According to NST, Najib is said to be disappointed by Tun Mahathir’s firm decision for the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) payouts to be halted.

Najib expressed his regrets in a statement made on his Facebook page, after Tun Mahathir claimed that BR1M was stolen money and was introduced to buy the rakyat.

He further elaborated that the money given back to the B40 group was intended to help them spend to better the economy, mainly for those in rural areas, with the goal of decreasing the gap between the rich and the poor, The Sun Daily reported.

He said,

“What is wrong with us taking money from the rich and from those who evade taxes, and giving them to the poor?”

Source: The Star

According to Najib, the Pakatan Harapan government only prioritises the rich, dark economy and those who evade tax, rather than helping the poor by increasing their income.

He also expressed his concern about the size of the income gap between the rich and poor, which originally was improving during his term; however, the gap might be bigger now.

Najib says that BR1M was never intended to be used for political purposes because it is based on a household’s monthly income, not which political party the household supports.

Source: Kosmo

“The money used to pay BR1M is not stolen money. It is from the rationalisation of subsidies and collection from the GST,” he added.

He also mentioned that the BR1M payouts to the B40 group were continuously increasing because of the GST collection, which is a direct result of the growth of economy during his term.

What do you think of BR1M being abolished in the near future? Do you think this move will punish the B40 group?

Also read: Tun M: Rakyat ‘Spoilt’ By Najib’s Payouts, Govt Will Reduce and Abolish BR1M