Government to consider BR1M payouts to vouchers or cards - Chua

The government will consider changing the method of payment for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) in the form of vouchers or cards to replace the current cash payouts, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

He said the government would only implement the new method after considering the needs of the people and available infrastructure facilities.

"The government will consider the payment method for BR1M in the form of vouchers or cards which can only be used to buy pre-determined daily essential items," he said in reply to a question from Senator Roslin Abdul Rahman at the Dewan Negara sitting here today.

Chua said the government would conduct a detailed study and improve the aid programme which was started in 2012 so that the objectives towards the rationalising of subsidies were achieved.

"The BR1M payouts are meant to lighten the burden of the lower-income group to purchase daily essential items such as rice, fish, meat, vegetables and other items," he said.

"The aid is given to all those who are eligible, regardless of race, religion or political background," he said.

Meanwhile, Chua said as of Dec 31 last year, 216,374 locals have been employed in 20 key government-linked companies (GLCs) listed in the GLC Transformation Programme (G20).

Replying to a question from Senator Abdul Shukor Mohd Sultan, Chua said the number was 85 per cent of the total 254,042 who were employed by these companies.

"The main GLCs involved in the G20 also continue to provide training and self-development programmes to their employees. In 2013, G20 spent RM513 million for the purpose of training and developing the capacity and competency of its workers," he said.

The GLCs also give priority to locals in their intake of employees and among the main contributions of these companies to the nation was providing employment to Malaysians, Chua said.