Rafizi: Pakatan will retain Najib’s BR1M
It is, however, pointless to increase cash aid without addressing the structural problems plaguing the economy, says the PKR leader.
G Vinod, FMT
Pakatan Rakyat would not phase out direct cash aid to those in need, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said today.
He said this after being questioned by reporters on whether Pakatan would phase out Najib-initiated Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) if it takes federal power.
“However, there is no point in increasing cash aid without addressing the structural problems plaguing the economy,” Rafizi said at a press conference held at the party headquarters.
He said that the structural economic issues Barisan Nasional failed to address in its manisfesto, among others, are corruption, monopoly and poor education quality.
“On top of that, BN talks about increasing aid under BR1M but never came up with proposals to reduce prices of goods and controlling inflation.
“Without addressing those matters, whatever cash aid given will be diluted by soaring prices,” said Rafizi.
On Saturday, BN chairman Najib Tun Razak unveiled the ruling coalition’s manifesto at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, in an event attended by about 50,000 people.
Among the promises made by Najib was to increase the BR1M aid from the existing RM500 to RM1,200 gradually to each household if voted back to power.
He also took a leaf from Pakatan’s manifesto and promised to build the Pan Borneo Highway in East Malaysia and slashing car prices between 20% and 30%.
Pakatan’s manifesto better
Rafizi, who is also the PKR candidate for the Pandan parliamentary seat, said there is nothing new in the BN manifesto as many of the ideas were copied from Pakatan’s manifesto.
“It’s either copied from our manifesto or it’s something they are already implementing right now,” he said.
