The Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) is a sincere effort by the government to help the low income earners and not to "trap" them as claimed by some quarters, Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin said.

He said he had been informed that many people, especially petty traders, who were hesitant to fill the BR1M forms for fear that they would be asked to pay tax to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) later on.

"I wish to clarify that it is not the government's intention to give problems to those who are eligible to receive the BR1M because the RM500 subsidy can help ease their burden," he told a media conference at the Parliament lobby today.

NONE He reiterated that BR1M was not a "trap" and the government had no hidden agenda in providing the subsidy.

In another development, Awang Adek, who is also Bachok Umno division leader, admitted to receiving monetary contributions as alleged by an anonymous blogger, but denied that it amounted to corruption.

He said the contributions were used to fund social programmes in Bachok, like English tuition for primary school students and to help repair the houses of the poor.

"I receive the money from companies for charity purpose, and not from individuals.

My officers in Bachok have the record of all the contributions, the donors and where the money is channelled to," he added.

- Bernama