SHAH ALAM, 26 Oct: The Umno-BN Government failed to meet the pledge they made themselves before the 13th General Election (GE-13) to increase the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in the Budget 2014 to RM1,200 when they announced giving only RM650 per year.
Member of Parliament for Kulai, Teo Nie Ching and Assemblyman for Batu Caves, Amiruddin Shari questioned the assistance for households earning RM3,000 a month and below which will be increased from RM500 to RM650.
In February – before the 13th General Election – Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that the assistance may be increased to RM1,000 if BN manages to defend Putrajaya.
Among the pledges previously announced before the GE-13 is to increase the BR1M to RM1,200 for households and RM600 for singles every year, for the next five years.
“#Budget2014 BR1M (assistance) will be increased to RM650. I remember the DPM previously promising RM1,000,” said Teo in her tweet late yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, Amiruddin said: “Promises fulfilled! Promise RM1,000 (for) BR1M, get RM650,” he said in his tweet.
According to opinions on Facebook, Zulkifli Hasan said after scrutinising the 2014 budget, analysis of economists and the BN Pledge, he wonders whether a team of lawyers should be established to sue the federal government for not undertaking their pledge.
“The Selangor Government was brought to court for allegedly failing to fulfill its manifesto. Why can’t the federal government?” he said.
Muhyiddin, among others, reportedly said that the BR1M will not only be given for the second time, but for the third, fourth, fifth, or forever if BN wins in forming the government.