Latest news with #PayungRahmah
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
More than 4,000 civil servants declared bankrupt since 2020
KUALA LUMPUR: Insolvency Department statistics show that 4,194 civil servants have been declared bankrupt from 2020 until June this year, the Dewan Rakyat heard was told. Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said this figure represents 0.3 per cent of the country's 1.6 million civil servants. She said the main causes of financial difficulties were high debt commitments and the rising cost of living. However, she said the government would continue to monitor the situation to ensure civil servants manage their finances prudently. "For civil servants, we frequently engage and negotiate with the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) if they are facing financial issues. "At the same time, for banks, we have the debt service ratio. We monitor this closely — the median is currently 34 per cent, but for us, it is at 41 per cent. "With the cost of living having increased, civil servants are indeed facing problems. "Through the Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SSPA), we have also raised salaries for civil servants, while the government has allocated RM100 for the Payung Rahmah programme, which will directly help civil servants cope with the rising cost of living," she said. Lim said this during the question and answer session, in response to a question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai). Latiff had asked about the government's measures to address the worrying trend of rising household debt, particularly among civil servants, and the relevance of financial institutions approving loans of up to RM400,000 for middle-income earners, as well as control measures to ensure household financial stability. Lim said the country's household debt level remained manageable, with the total reaching RM1.65 trillion, or 84.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as of March 2025. "This shows little change compared to the end of 2024. Household debt levels should also be viewed holistically, particularly by considering household financial assets, which are much larger, totalling RM3.45 trillion during the same period. "Overall, household financial assets remain 2.1 times higher than debt, providing a strong financial buffer. The government has implemented various control measures to manage household debt and strengthen household resilience. "A total of 61.1 per cent of household debt comprises housing loans," she said.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Successful Rahmah Madani Sales Programme to be expanded, says Armizan
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 13,060 series of the Rahmah Madani Sales Programme have been successfully implemented nationwide as of July 31. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the programme recorded 15,626,464 transactions that directly benefited the people. He said it was part of efforts under the Payung Rahmah initiative and an intervention mechanism aimed at helping ease the cost of living. "The programme offers the sale of daily necessities, both food and non-food items, at prices 10 to 30 per cent lower than the current market price in a specific area and its surroundings," he said during the Minister's Question Time (MQT) in the Dewan Rakyat today. Armizan said a total of 20,000 Rahmah Madani Sales Programme series, covering 222 parliamentary constituencies and 40 zones in the Federal Territories, were targeted to be held this year. He was responding to a question from Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) regarding the new strategies and initiatives planned to ensure that the increased allocation of RM600 million to the programme truly reaches the target group, as well as the actual number of people targeted to benefit directly. He said the ministry had also increased allocations involving three key elements of the sales programme, among them, increasing the frequency of implementation, expanding the range of goods, and diversifying implementation models. He said the number of sales events would be expanded, with the target raised from the initial 15,360 Rahmah Madani Sales Programme series to 20,000 series annually until December 2025. "In addition, new stock-keeping units will be added based on local needs and festive seasons. The range of goods will include school supplies, fresh produce and students' necessities. "The programme will also be implemented more comprehensively through three models, sales within premises, open-area sales and mobile sales," he said.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
13MP: Govt boosts Rahmah aid, STR, SARA for living costs
PETALING JAYA: The government will expand various aid initiatives, including cash assistance, affordable food programmes and utility subsidies, to help Malaysians cope with the rising cost of living. Presenting the 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13) in the Dewan Rakyat today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said under the Payung Rahmah initiative, programmes such as Jualan Rahmah, Menu Rahmah, Kafe Rahmah and Bakul Rahmah will be intensified to ensure access to affordable meals. 'Seventeen types of assistance will also be introduced for students from preschool to secondary school to ensure access to nutritious meals, including boarding school meal aid, supplementary food programmes, early school aid, and scholarships,' he said. Anwar said the rates for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) have been increased, with SARA recipients expanded from 700,000 hardcore poor households to 5.4 million, now also including the B40 group. 'Last week, I also announced a one-off SARA payment of RM100 for all Malaysians aged 18 and above.' Anwar added that efforts will also include reducing household electricity bills through the Time-of-Use (ToU) scheme by Tenaga Nasional Berhad, continuing Rahmah Packages for internet services and affordable insurance, and maintaining subsidised public transport passes and air tickets for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Jualan Rahmah aids youth in managing rising living costs in Kuching
KUCHING: The Jualan Rahmah MADANI programme has become a crucial support system for young Malaysians struggling with rising living costs. By offering essential goods at lower prices, the initiative helps ease financial burdens while promoting prudent spending. Media practitioner Asyraf Halim, 34, shared how the programme has helped him manage expenses since living independently. 'Prices here are much lower than at shopping malls, allowing me to save significantly,' he said during the event at the Sarawak State Mosque compound. Ismasuzilla Bahari, 28, from Telaga Air, echoed this sentiment, noting how the programme helps her family save RM300 to RM400 monthly on groceries. 'It's a relief for households like mine,' she added. Zulhilmi Alet, 31, an assistant officer at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stressed the programme's broader impact. 'Expanding it to include more local items like rice would benefit everyone, especially the B40 group,' he said. Organised by the Sarawak State Mosque Welfare Trust Board (LKMNS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), the event saw strong turnout, with stalls opening as early as 8 am. The initiative is part of the Payung Rahmah framework under Budget 2025, designed to alleviate living costs while boosting local businesses.
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah Treasury launches outreach to help rural recipients access Rahmah cash aid
Photo for illustration only. KOTA KINABALU (June 23): The Sabah Federal Treasury (PMSabah) will carry out its on-the-ground outreach programme to ensure eligible rural recipients who have yet to receive the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) due to the absence of a bank account are able to do so. The Finance Ministry stated that this initiative aims to ensure the smooth disbursement of STR payments. It was also noted that many eligible recipients in Sabah, especially those residing in rural areas, have yet to receive their payments. The ministry explained that STR is the government's cash assistance programme for the B40 group, implemented under the Finance Ministry to support the underprivileged in coping with the rising cost of living, in line with the Payung Rahmah concept. To address this, the Finance Ministry, in strategic collaboration with the Sabah Federal Treasury (PMSabah), Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), the Sabah State Government, and other relevant agencies, is implementing the programme specifically for recipients in rural Sabah without bank accounts. In addition to focusing on cash redemption services, PMSabah will also use the on-the-ground programme to offer other services such as opening new BSN accounts, providing advisory services via BSN counters, verifying recipients who have already redeemed their STR payments, making lump sum payments to eligible recipients, and processing new applications, checking, and updating STR applications through LHDN counters. PMSabah has identified 16 districts and 36 locations across rural Sabah for the implementation of the programme in 2025. The STR cash redemption programme in these areas will commence on 21 June 2025 and is expected to conclude on 30 July 2025. Eligible recipients are invited to attend the redemption sessions at their nearest location between 8:30am and 2:30pm, according to the schedule. Recipients are advised to bring their original identity card or birth certificate for verification and redemption purposes. If recipients or registered heirs are unable to attend on the scheduled dates, STR redemptions can only be made at the nearest BSN branch from 3 August 2025 until 31 December 2025.
