IPOH, Sept 30- The government plans to implement distribution of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) twice yearly in 2014, says Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah .
He said apart from this, the method of distribution may also be through the recipients bank account.
“The value of the BRIM will be announced during the tabling of Budget 2014 on Oct 25 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“We have prepared the first draft for this and which has been presented to Najib.So, we are further strengthening the distribution of the BRIM. While the actual amount has not been determined, it is certain to be more than the RM500 handed out previously,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the opening of the Sekolah Agama Rakyat Ehsaniah at Kampung Dato Ahmad Said Tambahan II, Gugusan Manjoi, near Ipoh, on Sunday.
Ahmad HUsni said the twice distribution of the BRIM this time will enable recipients to use it within a specified time and in a more careful manner compared to a one-off hand out.
He said when the subsidy rationalisation policy is implemented, the government will also look at the best assistance model for those having a household income of between RM4,000 to RM5,000.
“The government wants to see it can help this group. It is more in the context of when the government implements the subsidy rationalisation policy, we want to continue assistance, but in a different form.
“The details I cannot divulge. We have to wait for the tabling of the budget,” he added.
The distribution of the BR1M 1.0 to those eligible was implemented by the government in 2012.
For the BR1M 2.0 which was in the Budget 2013 tabled by Najib on Sept 28 last year, cash assistance of RM500 was given to those Malaysians with a household income of less than RM3,000 a month.
Unmarried individuals aged 21 and above and with an income of less than RM2,000 a month were eligible to receive RM250.
-BERNAMA
