The Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) scheme will be increased to RM1,200 a year within the next five years.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the quantum of aid under the BR1M scheme would be increased as the Government gradually rationalised bulk subsidies.
“This is Barisan Nasional’s promise to ensure that subsidies reach to the target groups,” he said when launching the national level third BR1M presentation here Saturday.
He said the Government was giving a total of RM4.5bil to seven million BR1M recipients.
Those earning RM3,000 and below received RM650 cash and RM50 for Takaful insurance scheme, while those earning between RM3,000 and RM4,000 each received RM450 cash and RM50 insurance.
Singles earning less than RM3,000 and with no dependants received RM300.
Drawing a comparison between the petrol subsidy enjoyed by Perodua Kancil and 2,500cc car owners, Najib said it was not fair that owners of the smaller car enjoyed an average RM900 a year subsidy while owners of flashy cars enjoyed an average RM2,500 subsidy annually.
“People driving big cars get RM2,400 subsidy, while those driving small cars get only RM900. Is that fair?” he asked the 3,000-strong crowd at the launching.
Meanwhile, some 17,000 former recipients have informed the Government that they no longer qualify for BR1M as their salaries have risen above the qualifying level.
