KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 – Pakatan Harapan (PH) is reminded not to make mistakes on the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), formerly known as 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).
PH Youth leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said any reform should only be done with the consensus of all PH parties and the Cabinet especially since the party manifesto promised that the BR1M should be retained for the B40 (income below RM3,000 per month) group.
“Pakatan Harapan cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history in this matter and its arch always rests on the side of compassion,” he said in a statement today.
He was commenting on media reports pertaining to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to reduce the amount of BR1M gradually before it is to be abolished.
Nik Nazmi, who is also Setiawangsa MP, said many BSH recipients expressed their anxiety as the cash transfer had become a lifeline for many of them.
He also said that the BSH system should be reviewed and it has to do more to substantially reduce the inequalities in the society and enable the recipients to stand on their own feet.
“These plans must be transparently formulated and clearly communicated to the public to avoid creating anxiety or misconceptions,” he added. — Bernama
