Bintulu: Behind a modest stall at the Kidurong People’s Housing Scheme (RPR) in Bintulu stands Juneita Bokhari, a 74-year-old single mother who has been striving to support herself and her family after the passing of her husband nine years ago. For the past two years, Junieta has been managing a humble burger stall with the assistance of her four sons, aged between 18 and 29.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Junieta’s decision to establish the stall outside her home was driven by the necessity to alleviate her family’s financial burden, especially since she lacks other employment. Despite receiving a pension from her late husband, the rising cost of living presents ongoing challenges, particularly with her children growing older.

Junieta expressed gratitude for the continued receipt of her late husband’s pension, but emphasized that the cost of living has increased significantly. In addition to managing the burger stall, she supplements her income by taking cake orders, which helps support her family. The Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash assistance she has been receiving since 2023 has been a crucial lifeline, providing the business capital needed to sustain her burger stall operations.

Although the STR assistance may seem modest, Junieta considers it a significant relief that allows her to maintain her livelihood. She receives a total of RM800 under STR, disbursed in phases-RM500 in the first phase and RM300 in the second.

In addition to STR, Junieta benefits from the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) assistance, receiving RM100 monthly starting from last month. This support underlines the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on low-income single mothers like Junieta.

The government initiated the disbursement of Phase Two STR payments on March 24, with a total allocation of RM1.7 billion, an increase from RM1.5 billion the previous year. This assistance benefits nearly nine million recipients, covering approximately 60 percent of Malaysian adults, with payments reaching up to RM650.

SARA is a targeted initiative by the MADANI Government aimed at assisting low-income groups in coping with the rising cost of living. The aid is credited directly to recipients’ MyKad, expanding its reach to 5.4 million recipients as of April 1. The number of recipients increased significantly from 700,000 previously, with the monthly assistance rate doubled from RM100 to RM200, depending on eligibility categories. This substantial increase demonstrates the MADANI Government’s dedication to enhancing the welfare of its people.

Many SARA recipients, particularly housewives, have expressed their appreciation for the assistance, which helps alleviate daily financial pressures by covering essential household and child-related expenses. For Farida Bahari, a 50-year-old mother of four from Kuching, the aid has been a blessing, especially considering her husband’s modest monthly earnings of around RM2,000 as a construction worker. She highlighted that the assistance enables her family to purchase groceries and personal care items, with additional support for their youngest child, who has special needs.