Kuala Lumpur: Disbursement of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid brings hope to those struggling with daily life, particularly individuals who no longer have a stable source of income. For private sector retiree B. Letchumanan, 60, the aid comes in handy to cover the cost of daily necessities although some may view the amount as small. He said his wife is a SARA recipient while his 85-year-old father was recently listed as a new beneficiary of the aid.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying announced that the government has increased the allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA programmes to RM13 billion this year, marking it as the highest-ever cash aid allocation. Penang accounts for 293,000 SARA recipients out of a total of 5.4 million recipients nationwide. The SARA programme is an additional aid given to STR recipients categorised as poor or hardcore poor under the eKasih database.

Letchumanan shared that the method of disbursing the aid by crediting it directly into the MyKad is very convenient as it can be used at any time, free from the hassle of additional technical procedures. Meanwhile, Nur Aziah Bahari, 65, expressed her gratitude for being selected as a recipient of the RM100 aid, which she has used to purchase food items. Admitting that she has been affected by the rising cost of living and has had to spend frugally, she said the assistance provided her with some relief in managing expenses, especially for daily essentials.

Yong Kok Choy, 75, also shared his gratitude for the aid, saying it reflects the government’s concern for the welfare of the people burdened by current economic challenges. He expressed that the government initiative should be continued and expanded so that more people can benefit from it. From January to March 2025, recipients received RM100 a month credited directly into their MyKad accounts, and starting from April 1, this amount was increased to RM200, benefiting 5.4 million recipients.