Year: 2025

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) — As living costs continue to rise, financial aid such as the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) has become an essential KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) — As living costs continue to rise, financial aid such as the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) has become an essential support for low-income households, enabling them to manage their family’s basic needs more efficiently and with less financial strain.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN , SARA recipient Zainab Baba, 70, felt great relief as she was able to manage her own needs independently, not wanting to burden her children with additional household expenses.

“Alhamdulillah, I use it to buy groceries, to top up whatever is lacking at home.

Who would give us RM100 or RM150 a month? If you add it up, this aid reaches RM1,650 a year compared to RM1,200 last year,” she told Bernama when met in Seremban.

The single mother of five, who now lives with her youngest child, said the assistance indirectly helped ease her child’s burden, who works as a delivery rider.

The SARA programme provides additional support to recipients of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) classified as poor or hardcore poor under eKasih, with the aim of improving the economic status of vulnerable groups and reinforcing the principle of equity central to the MADANI Economy framework.

Starting April 1, the SARA programme was expanded to reach 5.4 million recipients, nearly eight times the previous number of 700,000.

Housewife Fazilah Ibrahim, 42, shared that the monthly aid, ranging from RM100 to RM200, has been a valuable support to her husband, who works in a factory earning between RM1,800 and RM2,000 a month.

With this assistance, she said they are able to purchase essential items for their four children, aged between two and 14.

“Alhamdulillah, we’re truly grateful, with some extra money we can buy what the children need,” said Fazilah, who also runs a small-scale bundle business.

Meanwhile, in KELANTAN , Hasyani Jusoh, 46, from Kampung Sri Kulim, Melor, made full use of the aid to purchase essential kitchen items, including rice, cooking oil, and eggs.

She also used the aid to purchase school supplies for her five children, aged 10 to 19, thereby easing their dependence on her husband’s income from his work as a labourer.

The SARA aid also positively impacted Mohd Zulhairi Awang Soh, 30, from Gunong, Bachok, who utilised it to purchase essential items for his nine-month-old child.

“This monthly aid really helps lessen the burden of the rising cost of daily necessities,” said Mohd Zulhairi, who works as a labourer, while his wife Zura Mat Ali, 29, is a housewife.

From January to March this year, SARA assistance of RM100 per month was credited to recipients’ MyKad.

Starting from April 1, the amount was increased to RM200 per month for the purchase of food, beverages, medicine, school items, and personal hygiene items at over 1,600 registered shops and supermarkets nationwide

KUCHING, 9 April (Bernama) — Individu bujang berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana antara golongan yang tidak pernah dilupakan kerajaan dalam penyaluran KUCHING, 9 April (Bernama) — Individu bujang berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana antara golongan yang tidak pernah dilupakan kerajaan dalam penyaluran pelbagai bantuan kewangan bagi membantu meringankan beban kos sara hidup rakyat.

Ini termasuk bantuan Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) Fasa Dua yang disalurkan mulai 24 Mac lepas.

Beberapa individu bujang yang ditemui di sini menzahirkan penghargaan kepada kerajaan dan menyifatkan bantuan yang disalurkan secara empat fasa dalam setahun itu sedikit sebanyak memberi kelegaan kepada mereka.

Seorang penjawat awam Abdul Hakim Well, 23, berkata bantuan STR yang diterimanya digunakan untuk membayar bil utiliti dan membeli barangan keperluan harian.

“Malah bantuan ini turut dapat digunakan sebagai simpanan untuk kegunaan pada kemudian hari,” katanya kepada Bernama.

Pembayaran STR Fasa Dua melibatkan peruntukan RM1.7 bilion, meningkat berbanding RM1.5 bilion pada tahun lepas.

Sebanyak 8.5 juta penerima yang terdiri daripada 60 peratus rakyat dewasa Malaysia, mendapat bantuan sehingga RM650 menerusi STR Fasa Dua.

Sementara itu kakitangan sebuah syarikat swasta Roystein Emmor, 43, berkata STR memberi ruang kepada beliau mengatur kewangan dengan lebih baik, termasuk mengurangkan hutang dan merancang perbelanjaan bulanan.

“Bantuan ini bukan sahaja membantu untuk membeli barang keperluan asas seperti makanan dan bil elektrik, tetapi juga memberi peluang untuk saya menyusun kewangan.

“Walaupun RM10, ia tetap boleh disimpan untuk kegunaan masa hadapan,” ujarnya.

Turut senada, Desiree David, 28, juga pekerja syarikat swasta yang menggunakan bantuan itu bagi meringankan beban kewangan bulanannya termasuk bagi menyara bapanya yang sudah tidak bekerja.

“Duit tambahan itu juga saya boleh gunakan untuk menampung perbelanjaan bagi membeli barangan keperluan harian dan mengisi minyak kereta bagi ulang-alik ke tempat kerja,” katanya.

 April 8, 2025, Selasa – 5:45pm

KUCHING: Penerima Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) di Sarawak menyifatkan inisiatif yang dilaksanakan kerajaan sebagai ‘penyelamat’ dan sangat membantu bagi mengurangkan beban kewangan bulanan isi rumah terutama dalam menghadapi peningkatan kos sara hidup.

Eksekutif komunikasi pemasaran sebuah syarikat swasta Catohrinner Joyce, 36, berkata STR bukan sekadar angka di dalam akaun bank tetapi satu bentuk keprihatinan kerajaan yang sangat dirasainya.

“Inisiatif ini memang bagus dan sangat membantu, terutama bagi mereka yang tinggal di bandar seperti saya.

“Perbelanjaan harian meningkat, tetapi dengan adanya STR, saya boleh salurkan sedikit kepada keperluan penting seperti barangan dapur, sewa dan tambang ulang-alik ke tempat kerja. Saya benar-benar berharap program ini diteruskan,” katanya kepada Bernama di sini hari ini.

Seorang pemandu lori Frankie Munau, 52, pula berkata bantuan STR sangat besar ertinya apatah lagi apabila pendapatan harian tidak menentu dan bergantung sepenuhnya kepada jumlah trip yang diperoleh.

Beliau menyifatkan inisiatif itu sebagai satu sokongan penting kepada golongan yang bekerja sendiri dan tidak mempunyai pendapatan tetap.

“Sumbangan ini memang meringankan beban kami sekeluarga. Sekarang harga barang semua naik, minyak pun mahal. STR ini saya gunakan untuk beli barang keperluan anak-anak dan tampung belanja dapur. Memang sangat membantu, terima kasih kepada kerajaan,” katanya.

Seorang lagi penerima, Cecelia Bernard Merlin, 48, yang bekerja sebagai kerani di sebuah kilang minuman berkata STR sebagai ‘penyelamat’ kepadanya.

“Kadangkala saya terpaksa memilih antara keperluan penting. Dengan adanya bantuan ini, saya dapat lunaskan bil utiliti dan juga simpan sedikit untuk kecemasan. Ia menunjukkan kerajaan peka dengan kesusahan rakyat,” katanya.

Pembayaran STR Fasa Dua dilaksanakan mulai 24 Mac lepas, melibatkan peruntukan RM1.7 bilion berbanding RM1.5 bilion pada tahun lepas.

Seramai 8.5 juta penerima terdiri daripada 60 peratus rakyat dewasa Malaysia, mendapat bantuan sehingga RM650 menerusi STR Fasa Dua.

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KEPALA BATAS: The government’s Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid has come at a crucial time for many to help make ends meet.

Checks saw cashiers at authorised merchants serving long queues as recipients rush to use their credits.

Among the beneficiaries was lorry driver Mohd Zaini Yusoff, 60, who was accompanied by his 27-year-old daughter Nur Sabrina Mohd Zaini, who is disabled.

Both were grateful for the amount they had accumulated since the beginning of the year, along with an additional RM50 each under the MyKasih initiative.

“We purchased household items totalling about RM420, but paid RM20 only. The RM400 was deducted from our Sara account via our MyKad, as we have RM200 each in it,” said Mohd Zaini, who earns about RM2,000 a month.

They were among thousands of shoppers who queued up to redeem their Sara and MyKasih credits at Mydin Hypermarket here yesterday.

To ease crowd congestion, the hypermarket prepared dedicated lanes for purchases made under the aid programme.

Office administrator Teoh Wee Ling, 42, brought her 73-year-old mother Ho Ooi Lin yesterday to spend the RM50 monthly credit under MyKasih that Ho received.

“We were surprised with the variety of items we could buy under MyKasih. With rising costs, the aid is helpful,” said Teoh, who bought food supplies.

Housewife P. Summati, 72, who had already used part of her RM50 credit, said she hoped to use the remainder for vegetables, but was disappointed to learn that vegetables were not eligible under the programme.

“I bought about RM30 worth of dried food items earlier for our family of 11 at home. With RM20 balance under MyKasih, I was hoping to buy vegetables but was not allowed, so I’ll spend on other essential items,” she said.

Sunshine Wholesale Mart marketing communication manager Bryan Wong said the company decided to participate as a merchant to support the government’s initiative to ease the cost of living for targeted communities.

“We have a dedicated counter and system provided by the government to give a smooth checkout process for customers under MyKasih. The response has been encouraging,” he said.

Wong added that customers typically purchased items like rice, cooking oil, flour, eggs, canned food, and noodles.

“The programme has contributed positively to Sunshine’s business by increasing footfall.

“Many customers who come in for MyKasih purchases pick up additional items, contributing to overall basket sizes,” he said.

The Finance Ministry announced that the Sara initiative will be expanded to benefit 5.4 million Malaysians starting April 1, a significant increase from the previous 700,000 beneficiaries.

It said eligible recipients will receive up to RM2,100 in aid – a 75% increase from the RM1,200 provided in 2024.

Under the Sara programme, recipients use credits in their MyKad to buy selected essential goods at over 3,500 registered retail stores nationwide, an increase from 700 stores last year.

Apart from basic food items, the credits can be used to buy personal hygiene products, medicine and school supplies.

The expansion, it said, is part of the increased allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sara programmes, amounting to RM13bil this year – the highest in the nation’s history for cash aid distribution.

About 4.7 million STR recipients who are not listed under the eKasih database will receive new Sara assistance starting April 1, with RM50 monthly for elderly singles and RM100 monthly for households.

Dicipta: 06 April 2025 12:29 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6- The Sumbangan Asas Rahmah Aid (SARA) is now being expanded to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to help alleviate the burdens of eligible recipients.

On average, recipients are using the assistance provided, valued at RM50 and RM100, to purchase daily necessities.

“I received confirmation that I was eligible to receive the SARA aid online, since April. Thus, I would like to thank the MADANI government for this.

“I will use the aid for my family needs, especially to buy groceries and so on,” said recipient Wera Suboh.

“Alhamdulillah, I began receiving the SARA aid this year. I heard of this financial aid from my parents who are also recipients of SARA.

“SARA is indeed very good and directly helps the B40 group and those in need.

“Thus, I hope that in the future, this contribution would continue and improve further to ease the burdens of the people,” said recipient, Mohammad Izuan Isack.

“Essential groceries such as rice, cooking oil, and such really lighten the burden on our family. We are grateful to the Prime Minister for the SARA aid.

“I hope aids like this can be continued in the long term to help those in need,” said recipient Piah Abdullah.

The SARA aid is credited monthly through Identity Card (MyKad) to all 700,000 recipients registered under eKasih.

In Labuan, so far, recipients of the assistance can use their MyKad to purchase essential goods from approved categories at two selected supermarkets.

KOTA BHARU, April 6 (Bernama) — With household expenses piling up after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid which has been KOTA BHARU, April 6 (Bernama) — With household expenses piling up after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid which has been increased and expanded to include more recipients, has become a timely relief for many Malaysians trying to stretch their ringgit.

For Syed Syazwan Syed Zaki, 34, the RM100 he received through SARA for the first time came at just the right moment.

But instead of spending it during the festivities, he chose to save it for more important needs after the celebration.

“After Raya, I plan to buy basic items like rice, cooking oil and sugar.

The next payment, I’ll use for hygiene products, medicine and school supplies for my children,” he said.

“This aid really helps lighten my load, especially as the head of the family dealing with rising living costs,” he told Bernama.

SARA payments of RM100 per month were credited directly to recipients’ MyKad from January to March this year.

From April 1, the amount has been increased to RM200 monthly, benefiting 5.4 million people – a big jump from just 700,000 previously.

For many families, this small but regular assistance is making a big difference.

Fatihah Aqilah Sabri, 31, a housewife living in Penambang, Kota Bharu, said she’s been receiving SARA since January and is saving the money to buy baby essentials for her one-year-old.

“I didn’t spend it right away.

I’m planning to use it after Raya to buy milk and diapers for my baby.

“This is my second year receiving SARA.

It may not be a huge amount, but it really helps our family get by,” she said.

For recipients like Syed Syazwan and Fatihah, SARA isn’t just extra cash – it’s a much-needed lifeline that helps them stay afloat, especially when expenses pile up after the festive season.

Nasional  Dicipta: 06 April 2025 04:29 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 April– Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) yang diterima individu yang layak bermula 1 April lalu, dijangka dapat membantu merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi domestik negara.

Menurut Pensyarah Kanan Ekonomi, Universiti Teknologi Mara, UiTM, Dr Bashir Ahmad Shabir Ahmad, sumbangan itu dapat menampung perbelanjaan golongan yang memerlukan.

Beliau turut menyifatkan pendekatan kerajaan menyalurkan SARA menerusi penggunaan MyKad, sebagai kaedah mengenal pasti golongan sasar, merupakan pendekatan ideal, buat masa ini. 

“Di mana dengan pengemaskinian terhadap sistem Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU), golongan yang betul-betul layak dan juga dikenal pasti dapat menerima bantuan dengan lebih adil. Pada masa sama, ianya bertujuan memastikan tiada golongan rakyat yang tercicir dalam mendapatkan bantuan ini pada masa akan datang”, katanya kepada RTM.

Selain itu, langkah kerajaan menyalurkan sumbangan berkenaan menjelang Hari Raya Aidilfitri, adalah langkah tepat kerana berupaya membantu mereka yang layak untuk membuat persiapan hari raya.

Kerajaan MADANI mengumumkan peluasan SARA kepada 5.4 juta penerima bermula 1 April, meningkat hampir lapan kali ganda daripada penerima sedia ada.

Penerima yang layak akan menerima bantuan sehingga RM2,100, meningkat 75 peratus berbanding 2024.

Penyaluran SARA melalui MyKad akan diperluaskan ke Sabah, Sarawak dan Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan, membolehkan penerima membeli barangan keperluan asas di lebih 3,500 kedai runcit berdaftar.

Dicipta: 05 April 2025 10:33 AM

IPOH, 5 April – Penyaluran Bantuan Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) yang bermula 1 April lalu disambut baik oleh penerima terutamanya golongan berpendapatan rendah dan penerima baharu.

Rata-rata penerima menyifatkan inisiatif Kerajaan MADANI itu membantu meringankan beban kos sara hidup, perbelanjaan harian khususnya selepas sambutan Aidilfitri.  

Penerima baharu, Hafizi Zainudin berkata, bantuan yang diterima amat membantu selepas perbelanjaan besar dilakukan pada hari raya.

“Bagi saya, ini sangat membantu. Selepas perbelanjaan banyak sebelum raya, bantuan ini membantu dari segi barangan dapur untuk kegunaan selepas raya,” katanya kepada RTM baru-baru ini.

Bagi Ahmad Syukri Ahmad Bashah pula, ini adalah kali pertama beliau menerima bantuan SARA dan menyifatkannya sebagai sangat relevan untuk menyokong keperluan harian golongan B40.

“Bantuan ini memang diperlukan, dan dengan jumlah yang diberikan, kami dapat beli barangan asas,” ujarnya.

Sementara itu, Syahrain berkata, bantuan yang diterima lebih daripada mencukupi bagi menampung keperluan isi rumahnya.

“Saya gunakan wang tunai untuk barang peribadi, manakala bantuan ini banyak membantu bagi beli barang-barang kering seperti sabun, beras dan makanan asas,” katanya.

Sebelum ini, bantuan SARA sebanyak RM100 sebulan telah dikreditkan ke dalam MyKad penerima dari Januari hingga Mac 2025.

Jumlah itu kemudian dinaikkan kepada RM200 sebulan bermula 1 April, membabitkan seramai 5.4 juta penerima di seluruh negara.