GAUM demands Dr Mahathir to make open apology over BR1M

KOTA KINABALU: A movement claiming to represent Umno grassroots, Gerakan Akar Umbi Umno Malaysia (GAUM), today demanded former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed apologise to recipients of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) for regarding the aid as a form of corruption.

Its chairman, Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar (pix) said he regarded the remarks by Dr Mahathir extreme as it offended the BR1M recipients and the low income earners.

"The public is aware that BR1M is given by the Malaysian government as a medium to channel aid for the needy and it is clearly not a form of corruption as claimed by Dr Mahathir.

"Only those earning below RM4,000 a month are eligible to receive BR1M," he said in a statement here today.

Zulkarnain, who is also Pro-Barisan Nasional NGO Alliance (Pro-BN NGO) president, said BR1M was given to the low income earners to help ease their burden with the increase in the price of goods.

The aid is not intended to hoodwink the people to support the BN government as BR1M was only implemented after a comprehensive study, he added. — Bernama