Family Of Nine In Perlis Stretches RM900 SARA Aid For Household Needs

KANGAR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- For Amaladin Ramli, 66, who lives with eight family members in Kampung Salang, Jalan Kaki Bukit, the RM900 his family received under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) Appreciation Aid has eased the burden of their monthly expenses.

Amaladin, an odd-job worker, said the family spends the aid prudently, with each member, including his wife, six children aged 19 to 32, and his 63-year-old brother with a learning disability, receiving RM100.

Three of his children work as food traders, one serves with the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (RELA), another has a part-time private job, while the youngest is a student who is currently attached at University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

“With this assistance, each of my children can help buy household necessities, while my youngest, who is studying, can use his share for his own needs. Just today we spent RM300 on essentials,” he told Bernama when met at a supermarket here recently.

Amaladin, who also cares for his younger brother, said the one-off aid is significant for a large family like his and reflects the government’s concern for the B40 group amid rising living costs.

“Everyone feels the pressure now, but initiatives like SARA show the government cares. I hope it continues, as it not only lightens our burden but also gives families like mine the strength to keep going,” he said.

In conjunction with the National Day celebration, the government announced a one-time appreciation aid of RM100 to all adult Malaysians aged 18 and above. The aid, credited directly to MyKad from Aug 31, can be used until Dec 31.

The initiative benefits 22 million people and involves an additional RM2 billion, bringing total allocations for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA this year to RM15 billion, the highest in the nation’s cash aid history.

-- BERNAMA