Early STR Phase 2 Payment Brings Relief To Recipients As Aidilfitri Nears

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- The second phase of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash assistance, credited today, has brought joy and relief to recipients as they prepare for Aidilfitri.

The government’s move to expedite the payment also reflects its concern in ensuring the welfare of the people continues to be safeguarded, while helping ease the financial pressure on the target groups.

Single mother Zahuri Mohd Zain, 51, said the aid helps ease her burden in purchasing kitchen essentials and festive necessities for her children.

“I will use the STR mainly to purchase cooking ingredients to make rendang, peanut gravy and nasi impit. As a single mother, it helps a lot, especially as it can also be used to buy Hari Raya clothes for my school-going children,” she told Bernama.

In SELANGOR, a consultant at a private company, Siti Aisah Ahmat, 38, said the early payment brings relief to low- and middle-income groups in managing additional expenses during the festive season.

Clerk Rosmalawati Adura Othman, 48, echoed the sentiment, describing the initiative as a proactive step by the government in helping reduce the financial burden faced by the people ahead of Syawal.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, 43-year-old housewife Fadzilah Aziz said she would use the RM300 second-phase STR payment to buy new shoes and clothes for her four children aged between three and 15.

Masita Baba, 67, said the RM150 she received for this phase out of the RM600 total assistance is sufficient to help her purchase kitchen supplies.

In PERAK, a housewife from Pasir Salak, Norain Usop, 36, said the early disbursement came at the right time as she and her husband are self-employed and do not have a fixed income.

“Prices of goods usually increase ahead of the festive season, so this assistance helps to ease our burden,” said Norain, who received RM300 for this phase.

In PERLIS, Aishah Ismail, 42, a housewife from Arau, described the phase two payment as a ‘lifeline’ for her family to purchase daily necessities and items for her children ahead of Aidilfitri.

Rohalimatun Bakar, 38, from Simpang Empat, shared the same view. She said that although the amount may seem small to some, it means a great deal in helping cover her family’s basic needs.

Meanwhile, in KELANTAN, Zaleha Abdullah, 69, said the RM150 she received was meaningful as it could be used to bring joy to her four grandchildren and serve as duit raya for them, as well as to purchase ingredients to prepare festive dishes for family members and neighbours.

In SABAH, a survey at a supermarket in Tawau found that most recipients had begun using the assistance to purchase necessities for the coming Hari Raya celebration.

For housewife Norlela Amit, 38, from Kampung Tanjung Batu, the government’s move to expedite the STR payment demonstrates its consistency and concern in helping those in need.

The expedited disbursement of phase two today saw the government allocation increase to RM1.3 billion, compared with RM1.1 billion in phase one, which was distributed in January.

The payment benefits 3.8 million households and 1.4 million single senior citizens, with payment rates ranging from RM100 to RM600 depending on eligibility categories, while the number of recipients for this phase has also increased to 5.2 million, up from five million in the previous phase.

-- BERNAMA