Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of a one-off RM100 cash assistance for Malaysians aged 18 and above under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative is seen as exceeding expectations, particularly for individuals who were previously ineligible for the aid. In KEDAH, housewife Syazwani Ahmad, 32, from Simpang Empat, described the initiative as proof of the government’s concern for all groups of people, regardless of their previous eligibility status.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Syazwani expressed gratitude for the assistance, stating that it will allow her family to stock up on essentials for the next two months. She hopes the initiative will continue in the future to ease the growing burden on the people. Her sentiments were echoed by Mazidah Hashim, 29, from Tobiar, Pendang, who was delighted to receive the aid for the first time, as it allows her to redeem kitchen essentials with her husband.
In NEGERI SEMBILAN, civil servant Muhd Nazim Mohamad, 33, welcomed the assistance, noting it eases daily financial pressures. Previously, only his wife received the aid, but this time, he also benefited, providing relief for essential purchases.
The initiative, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with National Day on Aug 31, aims to ease the cost-of-living burden and will benefit 22 million Malaysians through an RM2 billion allocation. The total allocation for SARA and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) has increased from RM13 billion to RM15 billion this year, marking the first time cash assistance has been extended to all adult Malaysians.
In TERENGGANU, locals like Nur Natasya Nadiah Mohd Hamdan, a restaurant worker from Kampung Tapah, expressed gratitude as the assistance will help her family reduce kitchen expenses. Her father is self-employed, and her mother is a homemaker, and the aid will allow them to save for her siblings’ school expenses.
Similarly, in PERAK, Muhammad Firdaus Rino stated that the cash aid would be used for essential items such as diapers and baby formula, easing the financial burden of monthly children’s necessities.
In PERLIS, petty trader Muhammad Khairul Azim Insomuddin from Tambun Tulang near Arau praised the RM100 assistance as a reflection of the central government’s commitment to supporting the people.
In KELANTAN, public university student Aqilah Mat Nor highlighted the significance of SARA assistance for students managing their own expenses, as it allows for purchasing essentials like bread, eggs, or laundry detergent.
In PAHANG, Daniel Faiz Mohd Amir, a student at Kolej Poly Tech MARA Kuantan, emphasized the initiative’s benefits for students and singles, noting that the aid helps them buy essentials like instant noodles and biscuits.