The Permatang Pauh MP said the cash aid could only be deemed a success if the number of recipients decreased year on year, rather than the reverse.
“Pekan (referring to prime minister Najib Razak by his parliamentary constituency) announced with pride (when presenting Budget 2018) that the seven million BR1M recipients would continue to receive the cash aid.
“This means that out of 18.35 million Malaysians aged 21 years and above, 38% of them are stuck in the lower income category and are mired in poverty,” she said during the debate on Budget 2018 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Wan Azizah said BR1M recipients rose from 2.9 million to seven million currently.
The number showed a steep rise of more than 70% compared to five years ago, she added.
“Does this mean that the government under the leadership of Najib has been producing more poor Malaysians?
“Taking into account the effect and result of the rising cost of living and national inflation rate, I think the number of poor Malaysians will increase,” she said.
She said that a responsible government would design policies to free Malaysians from the clutches of poverty. Instead of providing fish to them, the government should give them a rod so they could obtain fish.
“It can be said that Najib and the entire Cabinet have failed to lead and administer the country effectively and well.”