RM52.7m STR aid reaches 47,000 recipients without bank accounts
The nationwide programme has reached remote communities in Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia, ensuring financial aid reaches those in need.
Treasury deputy secretary-general (Policy) Datuk Zamzuri Abdul Aziz confirmed that 23,105 recipients in Sabah and 20,775 in Sarawak have benefited from the initiative.
'In Peninsular Malaysia, the programme specifically targets Orang Asli communities in Gua Musang, Jerantut, Lipis, and Hulu Perak, assisting 2,688 recipients,' he said.
Today, 3,300 residents of Pulau Bum Bum and Pulau Mabul received their STR payments. Zamzuri noted that many recipients face challenges accessing Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches due to long travel distances and reliance on boat transport.
Housewife Atikah Noor Najib, 34, from Kampung Balimbang, praised the initiative. 'Previously, I had to travel to Semporna by boat and bus, costing RM10 per trip. This direct disbursement saves us time and money,' she said.
Kamis Bata, 62, from Kampung Lok Butun, echoed her sentiments. 'The government's effort shows they understand our struggles,' he said, highlighting the high transport costs faced by rural communities.
Military veteran Jamal Lumaadan, 48, described the aid as crucial for his family.
'With a fractured leg, traveling would have been impossible. This assistance helps cover household and school expenses,' he said.
The STR programme is coordinated by MOF with support from IRB, BSN, JAKOA, and district offices.
On Pulau Bum Bum, verification and payment counters operated from 7 am, alongside a Rahmah Sales initiative offering affordable essentials. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Going grassroots to save our tiger
Dedicated guardian: Lara awarding a certificate of appreciation to an Orang Asli ranger under Rimau. Orang Asli-led patrols, eye on youth offer new hope PETALING JAYA: A revolution to save our critically endangered Malayan tiger is unfolding, led by the Orang Asli who have called the forests home for generations. The community is not alone in this cause as the Tiger Protection Society of Malaysia (Rimau) is there to lend a helping hand. Since its founding in 2018, Rimau continues to empower the Orang Asli in Perak by training them to become skilled patrollers and guardians of their ancestral forests where the tigers live. Rimau president Lara Ariffin said that they have made major strides in improving their conservation efforts' effectiveness and reach through expanded patrols and improved equipment since November last year. 'We have increased the number of trained Indigenous rangers, particularly in Amanjaya, Korbu and Piah forest reserves, allowing for wider patrol coverage and quicker response to poaching threats. 'With support from our partners, we've also acquired new field equipment, including GPS units, camera traps and a communication tool. 'All these have helped us improve data collection and ranger safety during operations,' she said in an interview. She said that training has also seen a significant boost with new modules in SMART monitoring, bush craft, first aid and navigation added to the training curriculum for patrollers. She added that Rimau's Menraq Muda youth programmes are helping instil a sense of stewardship in the next generation through hands-on learning. 'We are looking to expand our patrols to the Bintang Hijau forest reserve by next year with the goal of treating all forests in Perak as one connected landscape. 'While progress has been made, we have yet to reach the optimum ratio of 10 patrollers per 100 square kilometres, which is crucial for effective forest monitoring and anti-poaching efforts.' Lara added that Rimau has trained four young women from the Jahai community to be pre-school teachers at Rumah Baca with the mission of nurturing the community's children to inherit the mantle of forest guardianship. But it hasn't been without setbacks, including the death of a female tiger they had tracked for over two years on the East-West Highway, as well as a notable decline in wild boar populations due to African swine fever. On the bright side, Lara said that winning the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) last November put a much-needed national spotlight on their cause. The recognition led to new partnerships, more sponsors and increased volunteer interest. 'The award affirmed that community-driven conservation can be both effective and inspiring, encouraging more people to support, share and take part in protecting Malaysia's natural heritage,' she said. The SGHA returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others. With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways. Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Standing tall and proud of her roots
It was a difficult start, but for this Orang Asli educator it was all worth it IPOH: Growing up, Rasila Yas would ride in a police truck to get to school. It was a 13km journey, starting at 5am, from her home in Pengkalan Hulu, Perak, with the truck making its way through jungle roads and crossing the border to her school in Baling, Kedah. Her family had moved to Pengkalan Hulu when her father, a member of the Senoi Praaq unit (Polis Gerakan Am), was posted there. 'Since there were police trucks heading to Kedah and back, my father decided to send us to study in Baling, so we travelled daily,' said Rasila, who was born in Baling from the Temuan tribe. Her childhood wasn't easy. She had to put up with kids who poked fun at her as they did not understand her Orang Asli background. They questioned her appearance and the food she ate. 'I was told I looked 'too fair' to be Orang Asli. Some asked why my hair wasn't curly. 'Others laughed at me, saying that my community eat squirrel or mousedeer. 'I told this to my father but he taught me to respond with pride, not shame,' she said. She remembered her late father's advice: 'If anyone mock you for eating squirrel or mousedeer, don't deny it. Instead, describe exactly how it tastes. Stand tall.' And she was slighted for wearing torn shoes. The fourth of seven children, she came from an impoverished family who relied mostly on vegetables such as kangkung, fern and potato shoots that grew near their house. They would go fishing at a nearby river everyday. 'We ate chicken just once a month,' said Rasila, 54. She went through her schooldays with few friends. But that did not break her resolve of wanting to pursue a sound education. In 1991, Rasila took up a humanities degree course at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Eventually, she also completed a postgraduate Diploma in Education in 1995, thanks to a lecturer who encouraged her to take up teaching to serve her community. And for those who had ridiculed her in the past, Rasila has the last laugh now. She became Malaysia's first Orang Asli secondary school principal when she was appointed to lead SMK Menglembu in Ipoh on Feb 1, 2023. (There have been several Orang Asli headmasters in primary schools.) And earlier this month, she was honoured with the Orang Asli Icon Award, given to her by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. Rasila, who is married with five sons aged 19 to 29, paid tribute to Liew Swee Fong, a former principal of SMJK Ave Maria Convent where she once taught. Liew had mentored her and had seen her leadership potential early on, she recalled. Also, she said her geologist husband, who is from the Semai tribe and a fellow USM graduate, had been unwavering in his support. Rasila's passion for education extended beyond the classroom. Since 2008, Rasila has volunteered with the Perak Orang Asli Association. On weekends, she travels to schools in rural Perak, Pahang and Selangor motivating Orang Asli students to pursue their studies. 'Education is life-changing. That is what I want to instil to the pupils from the community. 'I tell them, if I can be in this position as a teacher, so can you,' she said. 'Although I never aimed to be a secondary school principal, maybe this is my calling to lead and to help open doors for others from my community. 'We should give back, guide others and show that we can rise, too,' she said.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
Sharing the wealth is her motto
SEREMBAN: During the Covid-19 lockdown about five years ago, some Malaysians found it difficult to put food on the table after they lost their jobs almost overnight. Swimming coach Irene Hisham knew she could not just sit idly by when the most vulnerable worried about feeding their families. She sprang into action with a simple idea and a determination to ensure those down on their luck would never go hungry. As movement was restricted during the MCO, the mother of three repurposed plastic storage cabinets into 'food drawers' stocked with pantry essentials. With help from friends and family, she filled them with groceries such as rice, sardines, sugar, flour, cooking oil, eggs, instant noodles and tea leaves, and placed them along the five-foot way of a commercial area in Seremban 2 with a sign inviting those in need to help themselves. Word spread fast and by the end of 2020, two drawers had become 27. Her initiative had garnered the attention of local Facebook groups and people from all walks of life came forward to make contributions. This small project later evolved into Pertubuhan Rumah Helang, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities. Irene's NGO has helped numerous families. Irene, 63, is no stranger to giving. Even before the pandemic, she had been setting aside RM10 from each student's monthly swimming fees for charity. In 2019, she rallied her network of friends to build a wooden house for a jobless man whose home had been swept away by flash floods. It was the name of her swimming school, the Flying Eagles Swimming Club, that inspired Pertubuhan Rumah Helang, a symbol of hope to inspire people to soar through adversity. From the very beginning, Irene's motto was to 'share the wealth.' 'If I had a 5kg bag of rice, I would repack 3kg for the food drawer. My friends and family also chipped in,' she said. As movement restrictions eased, the food bank project went mobile. Her team placed stickers on their cars with contact numbers, so anyone who needed assistance could reach them. 'At any given time, each of us had five bags of groceries, which included rice, potatoes, onions, garlic, salt, sugar, tea leaves and cooking oil. 'Sometimes, people would stop us at traffic lights and we were glad to help them,' she said. The initiative soon shifted to delivering food packages, which proved a lifeline for those who were homebound. Although focused in Negri Sembilan, these care packages filled with groceries and essential items crossed state lines too like Selangor. Nowadays, regular food deliveries number fewer than 10 households per month. Irene said she aims to help lower-income families become self-sustaining. 'Our goal has never been to create dependence. We're here to help people stand on their feet. 'We help them find jobs, including as gardeners and cleaners, to help them earn a living,' she said, adding that some beneficiaries have opened small businesses. Festive seasons remain the busiest time for Irene and her team of 13 committee members and 60 regular volunteers. On the eve of major celebrations, the NGO delivers packages with fresh produce including chicken and vegetables, dry ingredients like dried chillies and lentils, and biscuits to almost 200 needy households. Fortunately, there are always people who are willing to help donate food, pack and deliver groceries. Volunteers come from across the state and are of different backgrounds. Yet, everyone is united in one mission – to lend a hand to their fellow human beings. Irene and her team also respond to urgent requests for baby formula from struggling parents to diapers for the terminally ill. Every appeal is vetted, and then shared through the NGO's Facebook page and volunteer network. 'Recently, I posted a request for funds to buy corrective spectacles for a young girl with vision issues and within 10 minutes, we raised more than what was needed.' The true power of community was also on full display during two medical camps for Orang Asli communities in Kampung Tekir and Bukit Galena. Her daughter Dr Edwina Hisham and several doctors were among those who provided free health checks. With support from Yayasan ECM Libra and Epsom College, the NGO also built two toilets for an Orang Asli community of 11 families near Bukit Galena. The Ipoh native said helping people was truly humbling. 'I always tell people to just give what they can. Every RM5 or RM10 adds up. Everyone can contribute whether it's a bag of rice, their time or their energy,' she said. Irene also hopes to secure enough funds to run a food kitchen and a halfway home for the needy. Meanwhile, the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others. With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways. Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.
