Oct 8, 2012

Is Najib Razak turning Malaysia into a citizen-ownership democracy?

Malaysia is giving money to individuals and households, with very little conditions. It is not near the unconditional citizen-ownership income or the unconditional basic income, but it is on the way there.

In 2011, Malaysia's 2012 budget gives the following, called 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M):

Low-income household
One-off RM500 cash assistance for households earning 3,000 per month and below
One-off RM100 schooling assistance for primary and secondary school students from age 6 to 16, up to Form 5
One-off RM200 book vouchers for students of private and public tertiary institution, and Form 6.

In 2012, Malaysia 2013 budget gives even more, called BR1M 2.0. In version 2.0, unmarried individuals are also given cash.

According to thestar.com.my

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in tabling Budget 2013 last Friday, announced BR1M 2.0, a second one-off payment of RM500 for households earning less than RM3,000 per month. He also announced that BR1M 2.0 was extended to cover single unmarried individuals aged 21 and above earning not more than RM2,000 per month, with a single one-off payment of RM250."

If Malaysia keeps BR1M every year, and extend it to more and more people, it could evolve into a partial citizen-ownership democracy.



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