KUCHING, August 27: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth today challenged Minister of Economic Affairs Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if indeed the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) contained “elements of corruption”.
Its chief, Michael Tiang, said what Azmin uttered yesterday was “a very serious accusation” and ought to be investigated immediately as it affect the integrity of Bank Negara and local market sentiment.
“When a federal minister makes a public allegation that the disbursement of BR1M should be stopped because the payout contains elements of corruption, Azmin should immediately follow it up with an official complaint with MACC to initiate investigations, especially when BR1M is Bank Negara’s brainchild,” said Tiang in a statement today.
Tiang cautioned the federal government not to succumb to the habit of making baseless accusations against the previous administration merely for political mileage at the expense of national interest.
“This is about governing a country, not running an election campaign,” said Tiang, adding that BR1M was very popular among the targeted group.
Tiang, however, admitted that the scheme had not been implemented effectively as it did not reach all needy people.
“I, therefore, support the notion that BR1M or its alternatives be reviewed and relaunched so that such payouts will reach the hands of the needy, especially single mothers, senior citizens and kidney-failure patients.
“The prime minister is not wrong in suggesting to slowly reducing BR1M and eventually abolish it as he is against giving ‘tongkat’ to the people,” said Tiang.
But he challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to replace all ‘tongkat’ policies with meritocracy ones.
“I believe a ‘new Malaysia’ should have new confidence in the merits of our people of all races, and not in clutches policies. Clutches policies will only continue to benefit specific groups of people,” opined Tiang. — DayakDaily
