‘BR1M was Bank Negara idea’

Home sweet home: Najib chatting with the owner of one of the newly launched Melana Indah flats, Hassan Mohammed @ Hashim, 49. Sitting on his lap is two-year-old Mohamed Waiz Hafiy Shawal. Looking on are (from left) Abdul Rahman and Mohamed Khaled.

JOHOR BARU: The 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) was suggested by Bank Negara and is aimed at helping those from the lower income group who make up about 40% of Malaysians, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Dispelling talk from naysayers that the handout had made Malaysians lazy, he said BR1M was meant to help the recipients cope with the rising cost of living.