HIGHER BR1M FOR URBAN POOR?
Govt may consider increasing quantum, says deputy minister
THE government is prepared to consider increasing the quantum of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) for the urban poor, says Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Othman Aziz.
He said the government was aware that the cost of living in urban areas was usually higher than in rural areas.
“The government will look into it. It’s a long-term plan,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (BN-Mersing), who wanted to know if the BR1M payment, which included RM900 for those with a household income of RM3,001 to RM4,000, should be increased for those residing in urban areas. He said RM25.62 billion had been allocated for BR1M between 2012 and last year.
“This year, the government allocates RM6.8 billion for BR1M, which will benefit more than 7.2 million recipients. With that amount, it brings the total given to RM32.42 billion since 2012,” he said to a question from Latiff on the amount spent on BR1M.
He said RM2.09 billion was spent in 2012 for 4.18 million recipients; RM2.9 billion for 6.8 million recipients in 2013; RM3.64 billion for 6.96 million recipients in 2014; RM5.35 billion for 7.44 million recipients in 2015; RM5.36 billion for 7.28 million recipients in 2016; and RM6.31 billion for 7.22 million recipients last year.
Othman said the short-term aid could increase the disposable income of recipients, thereby boosting the economy and developing domestic business.
The Finance Ministry, he said, would continue to make improvements to overcome weaknesses in the aid programme.