Rm100 Nothing To Sniff At Says Pm

---

 Anwar Ibrahim defends the one-off cash aid announced for all Malaysian adults yesterday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the additional RM2 billion allocated for the RM100 cash aid reflects the government’s commitment to helping the people without cutting existing aid. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the RM100 cash aid announced for all Malaysian adults yesterday, saying it is not an insignificant amount when viewed alongside existing assistance programmes
He said the allocation for such initiatives, including Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Subangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), had been increased from RM13 billion to RM15 billion, reflecting the government’s commitment to helping the people without cutting existing aid.
“If we give RM100, and a low-income family has two children aged 18 and above, plus the husband and wife, that’s RM400 extra. Add that to the RM300 they’re already receiving through STR and SARA, and it becomes RM700. That’s not a small amount.
“So don’t belittle it. Don’t say ‘what can RM100 buy?’, just don’t. Because this is on top of what has already been budgeted.
“At the finance ministry, we reviewed the numbers and added another RM2 billion. We have to calculate where that money is coming from,” he said at the ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, was responding to criticism from several opposition MPs who questioned his announcement that 22 million Malaysian adults would receive RM100 under the SARA initiative.
Anwar also announced that Malaysians would enjoy a lower RON95 price of RM1.99 per litre once the targeted subsidies come into effect, with details to be revealed before the end of September.
He said that initiatives like the targeted fuel subsidies and the civil service salary review had also led to a significant increase in government spending.
On the petrol price reduction, Anwar said ensuring that foreigners do not benefit from the RON95 subsidies was a logical step, given that fuel prices in neighbouring countries are significantly higher.
He also said that the implementation of targeted subsidies would be carried out in phases to ensure that aid reaches the B40 and M40 income groups.
“We started with the hardcore poor, then moved to the B40, and now we’re covering the M40. That’s how it works. I said we need to be a little patient with the implementation,” he said.
Anwar also brushed off remarks by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he did not need immunity from legal action over his role in the Batu Puteh issue.
“Let it be,” he told reporters after the assembly.
Anwar had told the Dewan Rakyat that no legal action was taken against the former prime minister over his role in the Batu Puteh issue due to his age.
Mahathir said yesterday that given the accusations, he should be taken to court, and that immunity was for those who were fearful and guilty. - FMT

---