Govt may up income eligibility for BR1M

1Malaysia People’s Aid recipients. The government is looking at increasing the income limit to allow more people to be eligible for BR1M3.0.

THE government is mulling increasing the income eligibility for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) from RM3,000 to RM5,000, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

If the idea is pushed through, it would mean that families earning RM5,000 and below would be eligible for the BR1M handout.

He was responding to Langkawi member of parliament Datuk Abu Bakar Taib in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday on whether the government would be willing to increase the BR1M eligibility amount for families.

"We are looking into increasing the income limit to enable more people to be eligible. We are also mulling other considerations for BR1M in the 2014 Budget."

He said the government was considering other proposals regarding the disbursement of BR1M, including dividing the amount between spouses.

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BR1M increase will depend on financial situation: Najib

The allocation for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) will be increased in Budget 2014 to be tabled in October, but the quantum would depend on the nation's financial situation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The government, he said, was committed to provide the best budget for the people, but it had to depend on the country's financial position.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the government also aimed to reduce the country's deficit from 4 per cent to 3.5 per cent in 2014 and to three per cent in 2015.

He said the government's priority fHe said the government's priority for the 13th Parliament which began sitting today was to fulfill the Barisan Nasional's (BN) Aku Janji (pledges) made in the 13th general election.

"Discussions on Budget 2014 will begin next week. I, on behalf of the government, am happy to invite the people to give their views and opinions on the country's budget for next year," he said in the latest entry in his blog today.

Najib urges Petronas staff to back BN, announces RM1,000 handout

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today a “token of appreciation” of RM1,000 each to staff of the national oil company Petronas ahead of elections expected soon.

Najib (picture), who is also finance minister tasked to oversee Petronas, said the cash gift was Putrajaya’s appreciation for the company’s contribution to the economy.

“The board and management have recommended a small gesture to bring cheer to the staff.

“Finally, I decided to accept the recommendation. A RM1,000 token will be given to all staff as a gesture of our appreciation, so spend it wisely,” he told some 4,000 Petronas employees at a town hall meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Conventional Centre here.

Malaysia won't take loans to fund BR1M

Malaysia will not take loans from other countries or the World Bank to finance its 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) programme.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said today, the country could afford to finance the programme through existing funds generated by its strong economy.

He was asked to comment on an allegation by the opposition that the allocation for BR1M was obtained from the World Bank.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said the source for the financing of BR1M programmes was from the strength of the country's economy and not through the World Bank. Najib, in his statement, urged the people not to be influenced by the opposition's false propaganda as it was obvious they were lies, adding that the last time Malaysia took a loan from the World Bank was in 1998 for US$400 million (RM1.28 billion).

Earlier, Nor Mohamed visited three families to hand over daily necessities in Alor Merah here.