Perikatan Nasional will provide households with up to RM6,000 a year in aid, or RM500 a month, if it takes over the government after the 16th general election, says opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin.
Hamzah also indicated that the opposition bloc’s Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) programme would offer free pre-university education for vulnerable groups.
The PN deputy chairman said that based on the 2026 budget presented by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last Friday, PN is confident the country’s fiscal position would allow it to implement its BPN initiative, which it first introduced when it was in power from March 2020 to August 2021.
“PN firmly believes the economy cannot be saved merely through the redistribution (of wealth),” he said during the debate on the supply bill in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“We must expand the economic pie, create opportunities, and increase revenue so that every Malaysian receives a fair share.”
Elaborating on the free pre-university education proposal, Hamzah, who is also Bersatu’s deputy president, said the assistance would be targeted at BPN recipients or vulnerable groups.
He said PN would ensure that students who receive free pre-university education will also be able to receive scholarships to complete their degrees in strategic fields.
“Autonomy for public institutions of higher learning will also be expanded through endowment funds, particularly involving research universities,” he said.
Hamzah also said higher allocations would be channelled to expand the capacity of government hospitals nationwide.
“We want the health sector to be given priority over other ministries,” he said.
