Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah warned that any snag  in the Budget 2012 one-off cash payment plan would cost BN votes.

Speaking at a dialogue with Malay College Kuala Kangsar alumni members on Tuesday, Razaleigh he said the risk that administrative problems would result in the money not being distributed before the polls.

"When they go to the polling stations and they (have yet to) receive that money, I think the (present) government may suffer," he told the crowd of around 150 during the session.

tengku razaleigh speech 110310 02 The former finance minister ( right ) said a possible snag may occur in the government plans to distribute RM500 in cash to households with a combined income of less than RM3,000.

He said that the civil servants involved in the exercise have a difficult task in determining who qualifies for the scheme and this will consume time.

"Some civil servants will split hairs and the intended (may) not benefit from the budget," he said.

No time frame set

On Tuesday, Bernama had reported that there will be no fixed time frame for the disbursement of the RM500 handout but it would take effect from January next year.

Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin said the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) would be rifling tax return files to determine eligible households.

IRB chief executive officer Mohd Shukor Mahfar explained eligibility would be based on total household monthly income and not an individual's.

"We need a checking mechanism for this (to determine total monthly income)," he told Bernama .

Awang Adek was quoted in the same report as stating that this would mean that the computation includes incomes of the husband, wife and children living with their parents.

"However, the calculation mechanism to be used for children staying on their own is still being discussed.

"I think the incomes of working children and children who are paying their own zakat (tithe) will also be taken into account.

"However, we'll decide on this later. We'll include these in the list of issues to be explained (to the people)," he added.