Dr M: Welfare to be given to the deserving, job creation a primary focus

KUALA LUMPUR: Welfare aid should be given to the more deserving and to create more jobs for people, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).

“Governments normally care for the people, but they care for the right people. If a person is unable to make money at all because he is handicapped, then we help him,” he said when he officiated the

Cities 4.0 and Business 4.0 International Conference and Exhibition on Monday (Aug 27).

He was commenting on his announcement that the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), formerly known as BR1M, would be reduced and eventually discontinued.

He said the BSH cannot be discontinued immediately, as a proper assessment must be done as to whether the recipients truly need it.

“Our policy is that we help the people who need the help, not just anybody,” he said.

“Our strategy is to create jobs for people. People must feel proud that the money they get is the result of their contribution in doing something or selling something,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said distributing welfare aid to people indiscriminately and without looking at their circumstances is a “lazy government’s way of doing things”.