Payouts To Be Completed By End Of March — Husni

IPOH: The 1Malaysia People’s Aid, 1Malaysia Non-Pensionable Veterans Aid (SVTB1M), 1Malaysia Schooling Aid and 1Malaysia Book Voucher (BB1M) payouts will be completed by end of March, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said.

So far, he said people from all walks of life had enjoyed the four government’s initiatives which aimed at reducing the financial burden of the people.

“We expect the payouts of the four aids will be completed by end of March,” he told reporters after attending the presentation of SVTB1M for recipients in Tambun parliamentary constituency here yesterday.

He said a total of 26,089 out of 73,653 non-pensionable veterans had received the cash aid of RM1,000 under the SVTB1M as of on Friday.

“The payout for the SVTB1M, which began in January, is expected to be completed by the first week next month,” he said.

Ahmad Husni said 1.4 million households and 72,858 single unmarried individuals had also cashed in their BR1M vouchers as at Wednesday, involving an allocation of RM724 million.

“The applicants who have yet to receive their vouchers, can check their status by contacting the Inland Revenue Board. The deadline for application is March 15,” he said.

On the RNM100 Schooling Aid, the Tambun member of Parliament said 5.24 million students of government and government-aided schools had received the aid so far, while the payouts for those in private and religious schools would be made before
March 31, just like the distribution of book voucher of RM250 for 1.3 million students in public and private institutions of higher learning. — Bernama

Source from The Borneo Post : http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/02/17/payouts-to-be-completed-by-end-of-march-husni/#ixzz2LA2XLB3C

PM Gives Indication BR1M3 May Be Given Next Year

CHINI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has indicated that the government may distribute 1Malaysia People’s Aid 3 (BR1M 3) next year.

“BR1M 3? … Wait until after general election. It may be given next year but first we have to get pass the election,” he said at “Gauge” and the presentation of BR1M 2.0 here, yesterday.

The Barisan Nasional government has always kept its promises and via the slogan ‘Promises Fulfilled’, various forms of aid to the people had been distributed.

The prime minister said BR1M 2.0 being distributed to the people is more beneficial than BR1M as it is also given to those unmarried and young people.

At the ceremony attended by over 20,000 people, he slammed the opposition for making promises which they did not fulfil, such as in Selangor.

Najib said under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), the people are assisted via many programmes such as BR1M, schooling aid and so on.

“Recently, I visited Egypt and saw the country’s situation after a revolution which toppled the old regime.

“Some people here are fanning a similar revolutionary spirit. They said reform, but is reform better than transformation? Reform or protest or throwing of chairs? Transformation means that the people are assisted.

“Felda settlers get windfall of RM15,000, loan for nice houses and annual bonus. This is the national transformation agenda. Reformasi has nothing to offer.”

He also commented cynically on the big flags put up by the opposition around Felda Chini.

“We won’t get anywhere with big flags and a waste of money. Can the flags feed us? Can they fix our houses? The people of Chini are not easily fooled.”

Some 7,000 people in Chini received BR1M 2.0. — Bernama

Source from The Borneo Post : http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/02/17/pm-gives-indication-br1m3-may-be-given-next-year/#ixzz2L9jcISE6

I Will Not Elbow My Way Through To Stand In Saratok, says Mawan

BAU: SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan said he would not elbow his way through to stand in Saratok in the impending general election, stressing that its MP Jelaing Mersat was still in the running to defend the seat.

Also in the list of potential candidates for Saratok is a new face whom Mawan only identified as a businessman in his 40s.

While he did not discount the possibility of contesting if called to do so by BN top leadership, he said the main priority at this point of time was to make sure that Jelaing and the businessman are able to work together with the other BN components in Saratok.

“Both Jelaing Mersat and the other person are locals in Saratok. I submitted two names so that the prime minister can decide which one to field. My only problem is how to make them really work together. I hope in this one month, they can forge teamwork to ensure victory for BN,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Earlier, Mawan, who is also Social Development Minister, launched the 1Malaysia Licence Aid (BL1M) for Mas Gading constituency at Tasik Biru Square here.

Mawan added that he was not a stranger to Saratok since he was born there and his extended family is still in Saratok.

Though this would give him an advantage, he said he was not gunning for Saratok in the impending polls.

Jokingly asking the reporters if he looked like a potential candidate, he said he would be the last person from the party to be asked to stand in that constituency.

He, nonetheless, hoped the rumours, which started off as coffeeshop talk, of him contesting in Saratok would spark the members and leaders of BN components there into life in order for the election machinery to be well-oiled in facing any eventuality.

“I hope this conveys the message to all BN components that the time is up and there is not much time left. We have to start working together in Saratok because in the last one year so the machinery was quite in disarray and not well-coordinated to our advantage.

“We have to try all sort of different angles … looking at the same problem to resolve it,” he said.

Mawan also mentioned that as party president it was his responsibility to ensure SPDP would not lose any of its four parliamentary seats in the polls which is expected to be called very soon.

“I have them all already – becoming an elected representative, having ministerial positions and bestowed with medals and titles. But my commitment and conviction within BN is still very strong.

“We cannot afford to lose a seat. The BN cannot even lose half a seat. When things do not move as fast as I want it to be (as far as election preparations are concerned), I will be frustrated.”

Jelaing is gunning for his third term as Saratok MP since winning in his debut in 2004. There have been talks that he could be dropped in the coming polls.

The victory by PKR candidate Ali Biju in Krian, one of the state seats in Saratok, during the 2011 state election, has casted doubts over BN’s chances to retain Saratok.

Ali, a vice chairman in the state PKR, has indicated his readiness to contest in Saratok.

 

Source from The Borneo Post : http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/02/17/i-will-not-elbow-my-way-through-to-stand-in-saratok-says-mawan/#ixzz2L8pWy2jV