KUCHING, August 27: State Reform Party (STAR) hopes the federal government will not abolish the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) scheme as those in the low-income group still need financial assistance.
This is especially so since the move to zero-rate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) did not lower the price of goods as expected, said its president, Lina Soo.
“Is there any scheme for the low-income earners who now have to pay 10per cent and 6 per cent SST (Sales and Service Tax) to lighten their burden, especially that we are expecting a price hike in goods and services once SST kicks in this Sept 1?
“Will not the poor suffer even more now?” Soo asked, in a statement today.
Soo was responding to the statement by Minister of Economic Affairs Datuk Seri Mohd Azmin Ali yesterday that BR1M, which was initiated by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, should be discontinued as it had elements of corruption to get the support of the people.
Soo argued that BR1M should be maintained as its initial aim was to assist those in the low-income group in the face of GST.
“The rich pay more GST, so BR1M was for the low-income earners to alleviate their burden of GST for their consumption,” said Soo.
She lamented that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was now backtracking on its election manifesto even though they are barely 100 days old.
“What is surprising is our AG Thomas (Attorney General Tommy Thomas), in his own words, said that a manifesto is of no significance,” she said. — DayakDaily
