Ever since the launch of 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in 2012, its allocation has expanded from RM2.6b (2012) to RM5.9b (2016). It began as a single payment of RM500 and RM250 to eligible households and single individuals respectively. 2016 sees the Government doling out amounts of RM1,050, RM1,000, RM800 and RM400 to different categories of eligible recipients.

The need for BR1M cannot be denied. It targets households that earn less than RM4,000 per month and single individuals that earn less than RM2,000 per month. Increased costs of living have left the M40 group feeling the pinch, what more of those in the B40 group? However, these cash payments can only go so far by making the recipients feel slightly less poorer for a few weeks at a stretch. It temporarily alleviates the symptoms but it does not address the root cause of the existence of the B40 group and people remaining in there.

Why do people still remain in poverty?

Read the full article on the Wolters Kluwer South East Asia Blog, WKISEA.