600,000 BR1M applications rejected for exceeding salary limit

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has rejected about 600,000 new applications for the 1Malaysia People's Voucher (BR1M) disbursement this year due to their monthly salary exceeding the RM4,000 limit, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (pix).
He added there were even Malaysians with a monthly salary of RM12,000 who applied for the cash aid, despite the income limit set by the government for eligible recipients.
Johari said the government had received BR1M application from more than 310,000 individuals with a monthly income ranging between RM5,000 to RM12,000.
"BR1M is meant to be given to the targeted group with an income not exceeding RM4,000 per month. This is why we have to do the verification process," he said in a press conference at the Parliament building today, adding since there is no process to verify, the government had to spend another RM700 million for BR1M to these non-eligible applicants.
Johari said he had directed for BR1M to be remitted into the bank account of 705,662 eligible applicants who had not received the cash, by next week.
He said BR1M payment to the group was delayed as they had failed to update their income details before the announced deadline on Dec 31 last year.
He added a grace period of three months would be given to those who had not updated the necessary details, failing which the second BR1M payment would not be remitted to them.
Johari assured that the government would not miss out disbursing the BR1M payment to those who were really qualified.
"There is no reason for the government to not hand the BR1M to those who really need it. This is my assurance to all the eligible recipients," he said.