SARA Aid Provides Business Capital For Housewife

By Nurul Syahirah Zulkifli

PADANG BESAR, July 21 (Bernama) -- RM100 may seem like a small amount to some, but for Nursyafiqah Sobri, 31, it has become a 'golden capital' that is helping to transform her family’s life.

Each month, the housewife from Bukit Keteri carefully sets aside RM30 from the RM100 Basic Rahmah Contribution (SARA) assistance received by her husband to use as capital for making and selling traditional kuih.

"Alhamdulillah, my husband get to receive the SARA assistance. Although it is only RM100 a month to buy necessities, it truly helps ease our family’s financial burden.

“Every month, I use RM30 of the assistance to buy flour for making the kuih, and the rest goes towards purchasing necessities like rice,” she told Bernama recently.

Nursyafiqah, who has two children aged six and 11, said she sells kuih such as cucur badak, keria and popia, which she distributes to several shops in her area.

Although her home-based kuih business earns her between RM50 to RM80 a week, Nursyafiqah remains grateful as the modest income still helps ease her husband’s burden in supporting the family.

“Some days, the cakes sell out...other days, they don’t. But I keep making them because at least there’s still some income,” she said.

Nursyafiqah shared that her husband, who works as a security guard earning RM1,700 a month, is the pillar of the family.

In addition to raising their two children, the couple also care for their elderly parents who live with them.

She believes the SARA assistance is a timely and much-needed initiative by the government, providing meaningful relief to families like hers.

The monthly aid, she said, is something they look forward to.

"I just hope the government will consider increasing the monthly SARA assistance from time to time as the prices of essential goods continue to rise," she said.

Under Budget 2025, the annual SARA assistance has been increased to RM2,100, compared to RM1,200 in the previous year.

This initiative aligns with the MADANI Economic Framework, which prioritises empowering the lives of low-income individuals through equitable opportunities, improved living standards, and comprehensive social protection.

To further enhance public convenience, the government has expanded the range of goods eligible for purchase under the SARA programme to 14 categories. Additionally, the number of registered participating retail outlets and supermarkets has grown significantly, rising from 700 last year to over 4,100 premises nationwide as of July 2025.

-- BERNAMA