Malaysia election: Barisan Nasional dangles cash handouts in bid to win over voters

The current ruling coalition has promised to introduce an ‘Assistive Basic Income’ if it wins to top up household incomes to at least US$466 per month

Its rivals also vowed to tackle the cost of living crisis, as well as fight against corruption, create high-income jobs and empower the Borneo states

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A woman counts her ringgit banknotes outside a money changer in Singapore. Barisan Nasional has promised cash aid to households with monthly incomes of less than 2,208 ringgit. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:41pm, 8 Nov 2022Updated: 3:50pm, 8 Nov 2022

Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional coalition promised cash aid to households with monthly incomes of less than 2,208 ringgit (US$466) if it were to win this month’s election, as it seeks to address the rising cost of living that has emerged as a hot-button issue with voters.

Barisan Nasional said it would introduce “Assistive Basic Income”, in which household incomes that fall below the pledged minimum of 2,208 ringgit would automatically be topped up, according to the alliance’s manifesto released online on Monday night.

“In addition to the various welfare initiatives and subsidy programmes, it is important that our country continues to explore additional new approaches to help reduce the burden of the rising cost of living,” coalition President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

A policeman stands guard between supporters of Barisan Nasional (left) and Pakatan Harapan (right) outside a nomination centre in Bera, Pahang, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

While Malaysia’s economy has rebounded swiftly from the pandemic, logging nearly 9 per cent GDP growth in the June quarter, the nation is struggling with rising inflation and a currency that’s near a multi-decade low versus the US dollar.

Latest surveys show some of the most pressing issues that need to be tackled by political parties contesting the polls include those related to the rising cost of living, economic recovery, corruption and political stability.

Barisan Nasional is the last coalition to announce its election manifesto. Rival coalitions – Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan Harapan and former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional – released theirs last week.

While Barisan Nasional has repeatedly said that Ismail Sabri Yaakob remains its candidate for the top job if the coalition retains power, the caretaker prime minister didn’t attend the manifesto launch.