Dr Mahathir realises importance of BR1M - Shahrir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has realised the importance of 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) when he expressed his wish to continue BR1M if the opposition wins the 14th general election (PRU14).

Barisan Nasional Backbenchers' Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman's statement contradicted his previous one in which he described BR1M as a bribe from the government.

"He (Dr Mahathir) is quick to come to his senses. I regard it as a maturity that he can accept BR1M as something good," he told reporters after handing over Chinese New Year contributions at Dewan Sri Tebrau, here, this evening.

Shahrir was commenting on Dr Mahathir's speech at the launching of PPBM at Malawati Stadium, Shah Alam, on Saturday, wanting to replace the Goods and Services Tax (GST) but maintaining BR1M if the opposition wins PRU14.

In KOTA TINGGI, UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Tun Mahathir's statement on wanting to retain BR1M was nonsense.

The proposal to retain BR1M was seen as not getting the support of the other opposition party leaders.

"He has forgotten that he described BR1M as a bribe. How is that when he says BR1M is a bribe, suddenly he says he wants to do BR1M too.

Only Azmin (Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali) agreed with him, while the others did not," he told reporters after handing over keys to a People's Hardcore Housing Project in Taman Sinar Sedili, Kota Tinggi.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Kuala Selangor Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said that Tun Mahathir's U-turn shows that he realised the good brought by BR1M.

"Every leader must have a solid stand because he is a symbol of the people's trust and the strength of the government system to be set up," he said in a statement Sunday.

Meanwhile MIC Central Working Committee member Datuk Seri S.Vell Paari said Dr Mahathir shocked his supporters in Shah Alam, Selangor, yesterday.

"In December last year, Dr Mahathir issued a statement saying that BR1M is a form of corruption and the government is using BR1M as a form of bribery to win elections.

"However, in less than three weeks, he has change his stand drastically. This shows that Dr Mahathir and his advisors have accepted the fact that BR1M is not a form of corruption but an effective programme in assisting the people."

"In fact, more than 63 countries provide similar types of cash assistance to their needy citizens.

"BR1M has proven to be effective in relieving the financial burden of over seven million Malaysians from the bottom 40 percent income households (B40), said Vell Paari.

UMNO supreme council member Datuk Sohaimi Shahadan said Dr Mahathir's proposal to retain BR1M shows that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's programme plays an important agenda in the people's development.

"Thank you Dr Mahathir for admitting the importance of BR1M".

He said the proposal was proof that the people accepted BR1M and their realisation that it would impact badly on them if they did not implement it too.

"If the opposition admit that BR1M is good for the people, there is no excuse for the people to change the government because what BN implements all these while are for the people.

"As such, in this matter who is blushing. They were saying BR1M is bribery, now they are retaining BR1M. What Dr Mahathir said was true..indeed, the Malays forget easily," he added. - Bernama