Govt has spent RM14b on BR1M

THE government has spent almost RM14 billion for the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) since its inception in 2012.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said the amount was to cater for more than 7.4 million BR1M recipients every year.

“Our aim is to reduce the burden faced by the rakyat, especially those from the lower income groups,” he said.

“The aid is given to all who are eligible,” he said in reply to a question by Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Chua said apart from BR1M, the government has provided other incentives benefiting those in the lower and middle income groups.

“They include the RM100 schooling aid, 1Malaysia Book Voucher and the setting up of Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia.”

He said the government is also committed to providing more opportunities for the rakyat to increase their skills to be more competitive.

On suggestions for the government to provide BR1M handout in vouchers to avoid misuse, Chua said it would depend on whether the infrastructure is adequate to support such a method.

“We have to improve our infrastructure if we want to implement this,” he said.