Najib: Four reasons why Opposition made U-turn on BR1M

(The Star) – Many Opposition leaders are finally admitting that the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) has its benefits that they even have similar policies in place, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).

The Prime Minister said there were four reasons why his detractors, including former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, made a U-turn on BR1M, which they previously criticised.

“A veteran leader had described BR1M as ‘dedak (animal feed)’ but a few weeks later, he did a U-turn, saying that BR1M would stay if the Opposition rules the country,” wrote Najib on his blog Najibrazak.com on Friday.

The first reason, said Najib, was that Dr Mahathir finally acknowledged a study by the World Bank and Stanford (University) that recipients usually spend direct financial aid prudently.

“Second, many countries have adopted this policy,” he said, adding that even experts have acknowledged that this could boost a country’s economic growth.

Najib said that leaders of Opposition-led states, who are Dr Mahathir’s friends, gave out similar financial aid.

“Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali gives financial aid for schoolchildren in Selangor and (Penang Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng gives financial aid to the low-income group in Penang,” he said.

And the fourth reason, he said, is that BR1M targets the low-income group, regardless of their political ideology.

“We never tell them to vote for BN (Barisan Nasional) (when giving out BR1M), unlike the financial incentive (in Selangor), where they have Azmin’s face on the coupons.

“Besides, Selangor is one of the states that gives a lot of financial incentives,” he said.