Activist: Find alternatives to giving out financial aid
KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need for the government to use other methods in helping the people without continuously giving handouts.
Muslim Consumer Association’s (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said other strategies were needed as monetary assistance would not be able to provide holistic support.
“I applaud the government’s effort in helping the people to have a better life, but Malaysians should be grateful and appreciate the privileges that they have received,” he said.
Nadzim said this based on the NTP report, which showed that the government had spent over RM23.5 billion on various initiatives since 2011 to help those struggling with financial challenges, especially the B40 group.
Nadzim also said recipients needed to be guided on how they should spend the money.
“Continuous giving is not healthy. The government should make them responsible for the money given by spending it on necessary things,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in the report that external factors such as commodity prices and currency fluctuation had led to the increase in cost of living.
“Since 2012, a total of RM19.33 billion has been disbursed and in 2016 alone, RM5.36 billion was disbursed to 7.28 million households,” he said in the report.
Among the initiatives were 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia Book Vouchers (BB1M) and Special School Aid 1Malaysia (BKAP1M).
The government also made available public amenities such as 1Malaysia Clinic, 1Malaysia People’s Shops (KR1M), 1Malaysia People’s Cafe (KFR1M) and 1Malaysia People’s Textile Shop (KK1M).
This year, RM6.8 billion had been allocated for BR1M to an estimated seven million households.
A number of 20 new 1Malaysia Clinic (K1M) had begun operations, and as a result a total of 6.47 million visited the clinics, an increase of 6.1 per cent from 2015’s 6.1 million visits.
The government will also open and upgrade existing KR1M outlets to standardise the prices of controlled essential goods in the country.
Those who live in the rural and remote areas can look forward to the mobile version of KR1M with more options for affordable products.