Malaysia Prime Minister promises annual BR1M cash handouts

Main - Malaysia - Najib shows off BN’s achievements, promises annual BR1M @ Tue Mar 19 2013:

"Datuk Seri +Najib Razak trumpeted his government’s achievements for the past three years, and promised an annual Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) cash handouts scheme."

The disadvantage is that the promise is by one Prime Minister. The promise could be easily ignored by subsequent Prime Ministers, or even by the same Prime Minister. The best protection should use the Alaska Permanent Fund as the role model - clear Constitutional laws.

"The prime minister then proceeded to end his speech by announcing that the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) initiative will continue to be an annual handout.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah had announced earlier today that some 5.369 million of the 6.114 million people eligible for the BR1M 2.0 have cashed their vouchers as of yesterday.

BR1M has reportedly helped nearly five million families at a cost of RM2.6 billion last year, increasing Najib’s approval ratings up to 69 per cent, largely due to a surge among lower-income households.

BR1M is a one-time handout of RM500 for Malaysian households earning RM3000 and below, and the second payout will be made this year under Budget 2013 with an allocation of RM3 billion and is expected to benefit 4.3 million households."

The government may be increasing BR1M to RM1000.