Cash Handouts (BR1M) "to sing" support for BN in 13th GE

February 2 2013- As the clock ticks closer to the Malaysian 13th General Elections (GE) with predictions to be held in the next two months. Parliament automatically dissolves in April 2013 if the GE are not called earlier by the Prime Ministers Najib Razak of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Prime Minister Najib Razak continues to play "Santa Claus" with Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) or known as 1 Malaysia People's Aid with cash handouts of RM 500 to household earning RM 3,000 or less per month and also RM 250 to singles earning RM 2,000 or less per month. PM Najib who hailed from the ruling coalition of BN has been talking about how caring his government is as more people are getting this second round (BR1M 2.0) cash handouts as compared to BR1M.

Despite a feel good factor for those recipients and who is not happy when given money? The real concern remain unanswered:

• Why are the more and more households earning less than RM3,000 and bachelors earning less than RM 2,000 per month in Malaysia? If the economy is vibrant and the correct path to high income nation is on track, they should be less eligible recipients because citizens are getting richer with a higher income. BRIM does help Malaysians but why are they still so many Malaysians hovering on the edge of low income and poverty?

• How about the rampant corruption and multi-billions of illicit money outflow? Has the government address that? Where has the money gone?

• The rising national debt against country's gross domestic product (GDP) which is above 50%. With so much debt at the moment, is the government borrowing money to pay the citizens?

The BN government seemed to be pre-occupied with winning the 13th General Elections, despite the failure to address fundamental adverse economic issues like a majority of population earning a low income, enormous illicit money outflow/ corruption cases and rising national debt, even under PM Najib's government since taking office in 2009.

Recipients of BR1M, be happy BUT do not forget the fundamental adverse economic issues that needed to be addressed and rectified, if the BN Government cannot fix those issues, vote in Pakatan Rakyat and experience real changes.

Salam Berubah,

Joshua