20250622_daily_express
Lim Hui Ying: SARA Shopping Assistance Programme; 4.8 Million Beneficiaries Nationwide Have Made Purchases
4.8 million Sara recipients use MyKad to buy essential items
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 4.8 million out of 5.4 million recipients of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid have used their MyKad to purchase basic necessities at registered shops nationwide as of this month.
Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said Perlis recorded the highest number of users at 94%, followed by 93% in Sabah and Kedah, while Penang recorded 88%.
She said the figures reflect the growing effectiveness of the initiative due to various awareness and promotional efforts at both federal and state levels.
The government has raised the amount of funds for both Sara and Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) schemes to RM13bil this year, the highest for cash aid programmes in Malaysia’s history, Bernama reported Lim as saying.
“The ministry will continue to strengthen awareness campaigns to ensure more people benefit from this government aid, which is aimed at easing their financial burden.
“We have also significantly expanded the number of recipients from 700,000 to 5.4 million since April,” she told reporters during a Sara outreach programme at a hypermarket here yesterday.
At the event, Lim met with 100 Sara recipients in Penang as part of the ministry’s effort to engage directly with urban communities.
She said to date, 3,700 retail premises have registered under the programme nationwide, enabling recipients to shop closer to home.
In Penang alone, 190 outlets are part of the programme.
Since May 1, the programme was enhanced by expanding the list of eligible items to 14 categories, including household and personal hygiene products, medicines and school supplies like uniforms and shoes.
The maximum amount of aid for 2025 was raised to RM2,100 from RM1,200, a 75% increase, Lim added.
Source: The Star Online
Over 2,000 students to benefit from SMJ Energy’s edu programme in Pitas
PITAS: More than 2,000 students from seven schools in the Pitas district received direct assistance for their daily schooling needs through a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd in collaboration with the MyKasih Foundation.
The allocation involving RM2.5 million was launched by Sabah Finance Minister who is also the Chairman of SMJ Energy, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, at a ceremony held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kanibungan on Tuesday.“
This programme reflects SMJ Energy’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits from Sabah’s oil and gas industry are channelled back to the people, especially our children, who represent the future of this state.”
“It involves three secondary schools and four primary schools in Pitas and provides contactless cash assistance for the purchase of food and stationery at school canteens and cooperatives.”
“This method ensures transparency and that the assistance is delivered directly to the students.”
“This initiative can, in some way, change the course of a student’s life and, at the same time, ease the burden on parents,” he said.
Meanwhile, Masidi also emphasised that Pitas is among the districts facing the most significant socio-economic challenges in Sabah and that every child should be given equal opportunities regardless of background.
The MyKasih Foundation plays an important role in the implementation, including monitoring and providing periodic impact reports.“
This initiative complements the ongoing efforts of schools, education officers, and local organisations in Pitas.”
“We know that improving rural education takes teamwork from all kinds of people,” he said.
Source: Daily Express
SMJ Energy’s CSR initiative brings hope to Pitas students
PITAS (June 11): In a quiet corner of Sabah’s interior, far from the noise and convenience of city life, a 15-year-old girl carries a powerful story that reflects the daily challenges of many children growing up in rural communities.
Alexa Grace Zulkeplee, a student at SMK Kanibongan in Pitas, faces more than just the usual pressures of school life. Her journey is marked by food insecurity and period poverty, struggles that often go unnoticed, yet weigh heavily on students like her.
But today, things are a little easier, thanks to the SMJ Energy Education CSR Initiative.
Through this programme, Alexa receives RM100 a month in aid. While that amount may appear modest to some, to her, it is a lifeline.
“It helped me a lot,” she said with a quiet smile. “Not just for school things, but also for something important like pads,” she added.
Living in the school’s hostel with her younger sister, Alexa typically receives just RM10 a week from her family barely enough for small purchases, since meals are already provided. She shared that if she wants to buy something during recess, she might spend RM1 at the canteen, saving the rest for emergencies, especially to buy sanitary pads from the school’s cooperative retail shop.
“When I found out about this assistance, I was so happy. Now I have enough to buy food at the canteen during recess and can also prepare for my period,” she says.
Alexa is one of 2,261 students across the Pitas district who are receiving support from this initiative, which is funded by Sabah’s state-owned oil and gas company, SMJ Energy.
At her school alone, 680 students are expected to benefit from the programme until the end of the year.
Other schools involved in the initiative include SMK Bongkol, SMK Telaga, SK Dallas, SK Kanibongan, SK Sosop and SK Datong. The initiative is implemented in collaboration with the MyKasih Foundation, which oversees the administrative aspects of the programme, and in partnership with the Sabah Education Department.
Secondary school students receive RM100 per month, while primary school pupils are given RM80.
Instead of handing out cash, the assistance is distributed through the MyKasih smart card system, allowing students to make purchases at their school canteen and cooperative retail shops. This ensures that the support goes directly towards food, school needs and personal essentials.
For 16-year-old Rioallwen Paul, the programme brings peace of mind. The Form Four student from Kg Boribi, Kanibongan, said the card gives him access to food even when his parents are unable to provide pocket money.
“I don’t have to worry anymore if my parents can’t give me lunch money.
“With this card, I can pay for food at the school canteen. This is the first time we’ve received this kind of support, and it really eases the burden of our parents,” he shared.
During the launch of the programme at SMK Kanibongan on June 10, SMJ Energy chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun explained why Pitas was selected for the pilot project.
Known as the most underdeveloped district in Malaysia, Pitas represents a community where the need is greatest.
Masidi noted that helping students with their daily necessities is a practical and meaningful way to encourage them to stay in school and pursue higher education. He added that if the pilot programme is successful, SMJ Energy may expand it to other underserved districts or continue strengthening its efforts within Pitas itself.
In an inspiring speech, Masidi also reflected on his own upbringing. As a kampung boy from the highlands of Ranau, he once walked three days and three nights to Tamparuli just to catch a bus to Kota Kinabalu to continue his secondary education. He spoke candidly about the hardships of his youth and how they motivated him to rise above poverty.
“For me, hardship was a challenge that pushed me to lift my family out of poverty,” he said.
“God determines our fate, but it is up to us to decide how we respond to it and what we make of it. Don’t be ashamed of coming from a poor family. Be ashamed only if you don’t try to escape poverty,” he continued.
Masidi also highlighted the achievements of SMJ Energy over the past three years, noting that its progress has been driven by capable local Sabahan talent.
Joining him at the launch event were SMJ Energy CEO Dr Dionysia Kibat and MyKasih Foundation deputy chairman Jeffrey Gerard Perera.
Through this initiative, SMJ Energy is not only addressing immediate needs but also sowing the seeds for a brighter, more hopeful future for Sabah’s rural students.
Source: Borneo Post Online
MyKasih Newsletter July – December 2024
Cashless toll payments secure aid for 1,000 low-income families
Wednesday, 16 Apr 2025
Thanks to transactions of MyDebit users at four tolled highways, 1,000 families from the B40 group have received financial aid.
Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat (ALR), in collaboration with Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and MyKasih Foundation, celebrated a major milestone as the “Sentuhan Iklas” campaign hit five million MyDebit transactions.
The milestone unlocked the final RM250,000 pledge, providing 500 low-income families across Malaysia with financial aid.
Sentuhan Ikhlas, launched on Sept 26 last year, transformed everyday toll payments into an opportunity to support B40 families.
Each MyDebit transaction at ALR highways – Damansara-Puchong Highway, Shah Alam Expressway, Sprint Highway and SMART Tunnel – contributed towards a growing pool of funds.
Support from Malaysians drove the campaign forward, with 2.5 million transactions achieved in December last year and RM250,000 in aid unlocked for 500 families in Lembah Pantai and Gombak in Klang Valley as well as Sungai Petani and Jitra in Kedah.
The final milestone of five million transactions benefitted families in Gombak, Ayer Keroh (Melaka) and Muar (Johor), giving them RM500 each for necessities at participating outlets.
ALR group chief executive officer Muhammad Nizam Alias said, “Sentuhan Ikhlas is a direct reflection of ALR, PayNet and MyKasih’s shared purpose of sustainable social impact.
“It shows how choosing MyDebit for toll payments can have a meaningful impact on the lives of many.”
PayNet commercial division senior director Azrul Fakhzan Mainor said, “This campaign showcases how digital payments can go beyond convenience to drive shared prosperity.”