Kuala lumpur: Perikatan Nasional's (PN) proposal to provide cash assistance of RM6,000, or RM500 per month, to the people is unfounded and merely rhetorical. Political Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, stated that PN had the opportunity to implement such measures during its time in power but failed to do so.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Muhammad Kamil highlighted the importance of being cautious about such statements and emphasized the need for realism regarding the nation's financial capacity. He remarked, "When he (Hamzah Zainudin) had the power, this was not implemented. Only now, after losing power, are such statements being made." His comments came during the opening of the 10th ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The remarks were in response to Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's proposal in the Dewan Rakyat to reintroduce the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) aid of up to RM6,000 a year. Muhammad Kamil noted that the aid distributed during PN's administration was partially funded by the government and sourced from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

He further elaborated that the total cash assistance distributed by the current government is significantly higher compared to two or three years ago. For instance, the previous BPN scheme offered a maximum of RM2,000, whereas the current Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) allows a household to receive up to RM4,600.