Salleh: Dr M calling BR1M corruption is absurd

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak reminds former PM, he paid out ‘wang ehsan’ aid in Terengganu to people, via federal projects in 2000

(FMT) – An Umno minister has mocked Dr Mahathir Mohamed for not knowing the difference between aid and corruption.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak was referring to the former prime ministers’ statement in an interview with local Bahasa Malaysia daily, Sinar Harian yesterday.

Mahathir said that the 1Malaysia People’s Aid, better known as BR1M, cash aid to Malaysians who fall below a certain income level is tantamount to corruption, and is therefore illegal, or could even be considered a crime.

Salleh said he was astonished by the statement and questioned Mahathir’s understanding of aid that has been given all these years by the government.

“Mahathir’s interpretation of corruption definitely differs from that of the rest of us. Never before have we heard something so mind-boggling.

“Malaysia has been dishing out welfare aid since long before Mahathir became prime minister in 1981. In fact, since 2000 Terengganu has been giving direct aid to its citizens in all forms, the same as BR1M, although it was not called BR1M,” Salleh said, adding that it was Mahathir’s own idea to set up a “wang ehsan” that financed this special Terengganu aid programme.

The “wang ehsan” fund was setup by the Mahathir administration after Barisan Nasional lost the Terengganu state government to PAS in the 1999 general election. It was meant to replace the oil royalty payments due to the new state government, with a “wang ehsan” that is managed and distributed by the federal government, instead.

Criticising Mahathir for making an about-turn of what was his own policy in 2000 in Terengganu, Salleh further questioned any future government policies should the opposition win Putrajaya in the next general election.

“Is Mahathir saying that if the opposition comes to power all aid and welfare programmes are going to be abolished? Mahathir has to make this point very clear.”

Speaking of BR1M, Salleh, who is also Umno treasurer said, “How can you classify any aid programme as corruption? Are tax deductions and rebates also corruption? What about zakat and kebajikan? All are forms of aid just like BR1M.”