KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Tun Dr Mahathir should not pan the Najib administration for continuing the direct cash aid programmes during his time in government, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said today.

Salleh asserted that the government has long given out "welfare aid” even before Dr Mahathir became prime minister in 1981 and continued dishing them out under the guise of "wang ehsan” or goodwill money in 2000, before the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BRIM) programme mooted by incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"In fact, since 2000 Terengganu has been giving direct aid to its citizens in all forms, the same as BR1M, although it was not called BR1M.

"After implementing the Wang Ehsan and Terengganu aid program in 2000, Mahathir now turns round and condemns BR1M,” Salleh hit back in his blog posting.

"Wang ehsan” was a gratuity payment given by the federal government to then PAS-led Terengganu government in 2000 instead of paying oil royalties.

The Sabah federal lawmaker then asked if the Opposition — of which Dr Mahathir is now a member — will abolish all aid and welfare programmes if they come to power.

"How can you classify aid programme as corruption? Are tax deductions and rebates also corruption? What about zakat and kebajikan?” Salleh asked, the last two words in Malay meaning tithes and welfare respectively.

Dr Mahathir, who led the country for 22 years and resigned in 2013, has been highly critical of the BR1M programme rolled out in 2012, claiming it to be a form of bribery.

The 91-year-old who was formerly Umno president is now chairman of the Opposition Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.