I was appalled by Ahmad Maslan's statement that BR1M will be paid out in installments as to avoid recipients from spending it on 'luxury'. Some call it 'stupid' and 'unwise'.
What luxury? Even if you give them a lump sum (RM950), they still can't afford a iPhone 6 like what the deputy minister is using. Such amount is only sufficient to buy food for about 4-6 months (for a family of 4 or 5), and not to mention RON95 or other expenses.
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Even so, they don't enjoy the kind of food Ahmad Maslan and the rich take everyday, let alone trying a cup of coffee at any hotel lounge. And that's why Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia was set up, right? - a kind of food caste system for the rakyat. Doesn't Islam tell us that 'a leader eats whatever his subject (rakyat) eats'?
Luxury means things and items that are only affordable to the rich, including Ahmad Maslan - expensive handphones, BMW, Hummer, designers' attires, gold and jewels. I wonder if 'roti canai' is also in the 'luxury' list!
Why must we ridicule them with BR1M? I believe they are thankful to PM Najib. His announcement on Budget Day was well praised although some parties mocked it. The announcement was good enough but adding such a statement to it really spoils the mood.
But we do not need more universities. We need to enhance the peoples' standard of living. We need to find ways to alleviate poverty and create opportunity to the low income bracket to move into the middle rung.
Rather than building 40 universities, better create 40 mega local projects to reduce our high dependency on import goods, especially food. The government has frustrated many local entrepreneurs, notably Bumiputras when their good-potential proposals were shot down.
I have seen good papers on reviving 80,000-ha abandoned padi fields nationwide, a 200-hectare hydroponic vegetables, a 3,000-ha cattle farm and others, which could save the nation about RM10 billion a year.
The RM24 billion mentioned by the deputy finance minister can also be fully utilised by creating projects for our Kelas C, D, E and F contractors, particularly in telecommunication sub-sectors, supply and construction. Can you imagine how many Bumiputra businessmen will benefit from it?
I somehow agree with this:
So, a new mechanism is needed to address the issue, including 'kicking out' names that don't deserve such an aid!
NOTE:My brotherly advise to Ahmad Maslan and others, be wise and think before we open up our mouth. 'Menjaga kepentingan rakyat dan menjaga hati dan perasaan mereka adalah dua perkara berbeza, bro. Maaf cakap.
What luxury? Even if you give them a lump sum (RM950), they still can't afford a iPhone 6 like what the deputy minister is using. Such amount is only sufficient to buy food for about 4-6 months (for a family of 4 or 5), and not to mention RON95 or other expenses.
Luxury means things and items that are only affordable to the rich, including Ahmad Maslan - expensive handphones, BMW, Hummer, designers' attires, gold and jewels. I wonder if 'roti canai' is also in the 'luxury' list!
Why must we ridicule them with BR1M? I believe they are thankful to PM Najib. His announcement on Budget Day was well praised although some parties mocked it. The announcement was good enough but adding such a statement to it really spoils the mood.
As he showed off his new iPhone 6 to civil servants today, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan explained that the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) cash aid would be paid out in installments next year so that it wouldn't be abused for luxuries like the new mobile phone.Ahmad also said Putrajaya could build 40 new universities with the amount it spends on fuel subsidies, which I agree.
BR1M was increased by RM300 to RM750 and RM950 for those in different low-income categories and will be paid in three installments next year instead of a lump sum payment as has been the practice so far.
"A lump sum payment of RM950 instead of three installments in January, May and September may see the rakyat buying new mobile phones like the iPhone 6," Ahmad told about 200 civil servants at a briefing on Budget 2015 today.
As he said this, he took out an iPhone 6, which he said his son had ordered for him from London where the latter recently completed his studies.
But we do not need more universities. We need to enhance the peoples' standard of living. We need to find ways to alleviate poverty and create opportunity to the low income bracket to move into the middle rung.
He defended the recent subsidy cut that raised the price of RON95 petrol and diesel by 20 cents per litre each, and said fuel subsidies were "stupid" if they benefitted everyone across the board.Being 'among the best in the world' could also means we stood last in the list of 20 or 30. Do not boast about achievement and efforts to attain a fully-develop status.
Ahmad said the RM2 billion spent monthly by the government on fuel subsidies could be put to better use.
"With RM24 billion spent annually on fuel subsidies, the money could be used to build more than 40 new universities in Malaysia," Ahmad said.
"The rakyat may not realise this, but the Barisan Nasional-led government in Putrajaya is one of the best in the world," Ahmad said.
Rather than building 40 universities, better create 40 mega local projects to reduce our high dependency on import goods, especially food. The government has frustrated many local entrepreneurs, notably Bumiputras when their good-potential proposals were shot down.
I have seen good papers on reviving 80,000-ha abandoned padi fields nationwide, a 200-hectare hydroponic vegetables, a 3,000-ha cattle farm and others, which could save the nation about RM10 billion a year.
The RM24 billion mentioned by the deputy finance minister can also be fully utilised by creating projects for our Kelas C, D, E and F contractors, particularly in telecommunication sub-sectors, supply and construction. Can you imagine how many Bumiputra businessmen will benefit from it?
I somehow agree with this:
KUALA LUMPUR: A new form of Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) will be introduced in the future, possibly in the form of food stamps for recipients using MyKad to purchase groceries and household items.There were many complaints on how BR1M was distributed. There are still eligible rakyat who didn't get it.
This was so that the aid could be distributed evenly throughout the year, said Finance Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah.
He said the Government was studying a new mechanism to replace the way BR1M handouts was doled out to ensure it was more targeted towards groups that needed aid.
Expressing hope that it could be implemented for Budget 2016, he said the mechanism could involve the use of the MyKad to purchase groceries and household items.
He said it could also be in the form of food stamps like how it was given out in the United States.
So, a new mechanism is needed to address the issue, including 'kicking out' names that don't deserve such an aid!
NOTE:My brotherly advise to Ahmad Maslan and others, be wise and think before we open up our mouth. 'Menjaga kepentingan rakyat dan menjaga hati dan perasaan mereka adalah dua perkara berbeza, bro. Maaf cakap.