The next mission is to improve perception of crime rate

Welcome aid: Ipoh Barat MCA division chairman Datuk Tan Chin Meng (left) handing out the BR1M 2.0 payment to 81-yearold Yong Yow Choy (centre) and his wife Wong Ah Keng, 75, at Glamour Square Shopping Centre in Bercham.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 4.18 million households have benefited from the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) programme, which was started to help the people cope with the rising cost of living.

According to the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Annual Report 2012, BR1M has helped more households in the country than initially targeted.

“The original target, based on the Statistics Department’s Household Income Survey 2009/10, was 3.4 million households,” said the report, adding that the actual number of recipients was more than 4.17 million households, which was 22.91% higher.

Under the BR1M programme, households earning RM3,000 and less a month are each given a one-off cash assistance of RM500.

This was further extended with a RM250 assistance covering single unmarried persons aged 21 and above and earning not more than RM2,000 a month.

Another initiative under the NKRA for rising cost of living is the 1Malaysia People’s Welfare Aid (KAR1SMA) cash assistance ranging from RM100 to RM450 to recipients who include senior citizens, the disabled, single mothers and widows of police and military personnel.

The report said some RM1.4bil in KAR1SMA aid was distributed last year.

The GTP also offers programmes providing basic needs at affordable costs, through the 1Malaysia Clinic and Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M). As of Dec 31 last year, 168 1Malaysia clinics provided medical care at a nominal fee of RM1. The target in 2013 is to establish 80 more such clinics.

Meanwhile, 59 KR1M stores were set up last year, offering essential goods at 30% to 40% lower than prices at conventional stores.

As for the second phase of KR1M, residents in rural areas will see its goods being distributed to “Mom and Pop” stores in various districts. The target for KR1M is to establish 50 stores every year until 2015.

(Source: The Star Online)

Najib to launch BR1M distribution

IPOH: FEBRUARY will be a much awaited month for more than  seven million households and single Malaysians.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will kick-start the nationwide disbursement of RM500 to the those eligible for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M 2.0).

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the launch by Najib, who mooted the aid programme to help low-income households, would put in motion the disbursement of the aid nationwide to eligible households and single folk.

Distribution of the aid would be carried out next month and would be completed by March.

Ahmad Husni said the aid would be distributed through district officers and zone development officers.

Under the BR1M 2.0 initiative, he said more than three million new applicants would also enjoy the cash aid.

"The launch (of the disbursement) is confirmed, but the official venue has yet to be confirmed," he said after launching the "Populate the library" programme in Tambun near here yesterday.

Ahamd Husni said so far, the Inland Revenue Board had processed six million BR1M 2.0 applications, both old and new, with 1.3 million still being processed by the board.

PM Najib: Economic growth is enabling implementation of development programmes

Najib Tun Razak during a groundbreaking opening Lupak Mosque in Batu Sapi Widespread

SANDAKAN: The country's encouraging economic growth has enabled the Government to implement development programmes and channel aid to the people.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak said this was the reason why Barisan Nasional had made it a priority to do its best in managing the country, especially with regard to economic growth.

He said Barisan could manage the country well currently although other countries were facing problems.
"We have managed the country well while countries in Europe were being saddled with debts, the United States (US) is facing problems due to its political clashes while countries in the Middle East were undergoing uprisings.

"Malaysia, on the contrary, is recording economic growth that has received praise from the international community," he said at a gathering with the people in the Batu Sapi Parliamentary Constituency and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kampung Lupak Meluas Mosque, near here Sunday.

Upon completion, the new mosque, built at a cost of RM5mil, will be the biggest in Batu Sapi. It is located beside the Public Housing Project area where 180 housing units are now under construction.

According to Najib, the country's economic growth rate has also received praise from International Monetary Fund (IMF) chairman Christine Lagarde, whom he had met recently.

"We have achieved good economic growth, and when the country's revenue increases, the economy improves and we distribute this wealth to the people," he said.

"That's the principle that I hold on to in the aspect of social justice. The 1Malaysia concept was introduced not merely as a slogan but it has principles and comprehensiveness," he said.

Najib said the Government implemented the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) due to the strong national economic revenue and it is being continued for BR1M2.0 next year. - Bernama

(Source: The Star Website - 16 December 2012)