Azmin: Govt substituting BR1M with new economic strategy
THE economic affairs minister says the initiative, which focuses on the wellbeing of the people, will be debated in Parliament in October.
THE government is drafting an economic strategy to replace the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).
The new strategy would focus on the prosperity and wellbeing of the people, said Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
“Through the Economic Affairs and Finance Ministries, we will give views and present a new initiative on the country’s economic direction in Parliament in the near future.
“If this focus (new initiative) is to empower the people, I believe the people will have more economic power to ease their cost of living.”
Azmin said this initiative would be tabled and debated in Parliament in October.
He said the plan emphasised public welfare and not “corrupting and fooling the people”.
Azmin, who is PKR deputy president, said this after officiating the party’s Perak branch annual general meeting at Kinta Riverfront Hotel here yesterday.
Present were PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, deputy PKR Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin and Perak PKR chairman Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty.
Azmin backed Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s view that the Barisan Nasional’s BR1M initiative should be discontinued as it had elements of corruption.
Despite the discontinuation of the financial aid, he said other methods could be implemented to develop and aid the people.
“The prime minister is right in pointing out that any form of cash bribe for political support must be stopped.”
He said the public should instead be made prosperous and empowered through programmes and policies.
“As an example, for small-time entrepreneurs under the B40 group (bottom 40 per cent group), we provide them with micro-credit assistance to expand their businesses.
“We also gave them loans from RM1,000 to RM50,000 that are interest free.
“With such help they can stabilise their household economy and do not need to depend on cash aid.”