Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub. – THOMAS YONG/The Star
PONTIAN: The Rahmah initiative was introduced to help the rakyat, especially those in the B40 category, cope with the rising cost of living, says Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said it was more important for the people to benefit from the government efforts instead of claiming who initiated it first.
"I don't have any problem with anyone who wants to claim that they came out with the Rahmah initiative – as long as the people are getting the benefits.
"We introduced the Rahmah umbrella under the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to help the people, so anyone is free to use the term 'Rahmah'," he said.
He said this when met by reporters at a Hari Raya open house at his house in Kampung Serkat here on Monday (April 24).
Salahuddin said this when asked to comment Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) deputy information chief Mahdzir Ibrahim's statement, who claimed that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad initiated the Rahmah concept.
The Pulai MP added that Dr Mahathir had introduced his agenda through 'Wawasan 2020' while the Anwar era, through the Madani concept, had the Rahmah umbrella.
"I think issues like this are like people playing with fireworks – maybe they just want to have some fun, so I am taking this as a Hari Raya joke," he added.
Earlier, Mahdzir was reported as saying that Dr Mahathir introduced the Rahmah concept in a speech at a programme in Kota Kinabalu back in 2020.
