Latest news with #Sara
The Star
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Aid rises, but economic strain persists
GEORGE TOWN: Although cash aid programmes like Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) are welcomed relief efforts, there are calls for the government to address the root cause of financial hardship in the lower-income group. Housewife Azimah Aziz, 41, said the initiatives are timely, but stressed the need to reduce the impact of rising prices of essential goods. 'While the cash handouts help ease the pressure temporarily, they do not solve the economic challenges that low- and middle-income families face every day. 'Without stronger price controls and a progressive wage system, many Malaysians may remain trapped in a cycle of dependency,' she said. During the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the annual STR and monthly Sara cash aid initiatives would be expanded. The Sara programme will benefit 5.4 million recipients, up from 700,000 previously. It includes a one-off RM100 cash aid for all Malaysians aged 18 and above. Additional cost-saving measures include subsidised public transport and domestic airfares for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, as well as electricity bill reductions under Tenaga Nasional Bhd's Time-of-Use scheme. Professional photographer Allen Lim, 52, praised the government's support for needy families from the Chinese and Indian communities. 'It is a noble act to address this issue, as the cost of living affects all communities in the country,' he said. However, he noted that rather than injecting funds into new villages, the government should consider positioning it as a hub for tourism and the creative economy, backed by sustainable and forward-looking policies. Anwar said infrastructure and public amenities would be improved to enhance social connectivity and quality of life among the Chinese and Indian communities, including women, youths and senior citizens. The Chinese community will benefit from the implementation of the New Village Development Master Plan, which includes financing schemes for entrepreneurial activities and the upgrading of hawker stall sites. On the Indian community, Anwar said focus would be placed on increasing career opportunities through education and talent development, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Civil servant M. Loga, 26, welcomed the RM40bil allocated to the healthcare sector. 'It is a timely move, especially given the rising cost of medical treatment. The allocation will strengthen and improve our public healthcare system,' he said. Loga said many long-overdue projects, including the upgrading of dilapidated clinics, modernisation of medical equipment and improved healthcare access in rural areas, could be expedited. He hoped that a portion of the funds would be directed towards reducing patient waiting times and increasing the number of employees at public hospitals.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
13MP set to future-proof Malaysian economy
PETALING JAYA: The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) tabled yesterday sets the tone for a decisive five-year push to future-proof the economy, bridge income gaps and position the nation as a resilient, high-tech and inclusive economy. Anchored on sustainability, reform and digital change, the blueprint outlines bold policy shifts designed to navigate a volatile global landscape while securing long-term growth and social cohesion. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the country's GDP is projected to grow at between 4.5% and 5.5% annually. He said sector-wise, agriculture is expected to expand by 1.5% a year, mining by 2.8%, construction by 5.0%, manufacturing by 5.8% and services by 5.2%, reflecting a continued push toward high-value activities and structural reform across industries. At the core of the plan are efforts to enhance education outcomes, improve healthcare access, and uplift marginalised communities, particularly in Sabah, Sarawak and rural heartlands. Inclusive growth, youth empowerment and greater civic participation also feature prominently, signalling a more people-centred approach to national development. Inclusive development The plan outlines tailored support for various communities. For Bumiputera entrepreneurs, the Gate to Global (GTG) programme will be expanded to support exports, innovation and digital marketing. In Sabah and Sarawak, Anak Negeri and Bumiputera communities would benefit from access to business premises, financing and training. The Chinese community would see progress under the Kampung Baru Development Master Plan, with hawker centre upgrades and financing aid. For the Indian community, focus will be placed on STEM and TVET education, home upgrades and strengthened community governance. Cost of living relief To ease financial burdens, the STR and Sara schemes will be expanded to benefit 5.4 million households, including a broader B40 segment. A one-off RM100 Sara payment will be given to all Malaysians aged 18 and above. The Payung Rahmah initiative will also be scaled up to improve food affordability through Jualan, Menu, Kafe and Bakul Rahmah programmes. In education, 17 forms of student aid, including meal subsidies, food supplements and scholarships, will be introduced. Households will benefit from Tenaga Nasional Berhad Time-of-Use scheme to better manage electricity costs. Rahmah internet and insurance packages will continue, along with transport subsidies for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Uplifting Orang Asli A review of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 is on the cards to strengthen Orang Asli land rights and legal protections. Education access will be widened through community-based schools and direct schooling assistance. Strengthening families and support systems Under the Kasih Keluarga Negara agenda, men are encouraged to embrace their roles as providers, protectors and educators. To boost female labour force participation to 60%, the plan expands access to childcare and offers training support for working mothers. Special education services will be strengthened, with autism centres in every state capital. Support for disabled persons, senior citizens and Orang Asli includes skills training, job placements and employer incentives under the National OKU Action Plan. NGOs would also gain access to alternative funding streams such as social sukuk, waqf, zakat and crowdfunding. Food security and agriculture Malaysia aims to grow agri-food value-added output to RM58 billion by 2030, with focus on increasing domestic production in Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak. The five-season padi programme will be expanded across six states. Smart farming, R&D, mechanisation and youth-led satellite farms are among key strategies. Food sources will be diversified to reduce import reliance, while tighter safety regulations and a modernised supply chain will support SMEs and attract young talent. Education A total of RM67 billion has been allocated to the education sector. This includes building new schools, upgrading 1,200 dilapidated ones, including Kemas (Community Development Department) premises and improving public university facilities. Targets include 98% preschool and secondary enrolment, with compulsory preschool at age five. Vertical schools would help ease overcrowding in urban areas, and school construction will be required for new housing developments. Key reform areas include STEM, AI, digital skills, language proficiency and gifted education. Preschool to secondary education will remain under the Education Ministry while pre-university and tertiary levels fall under the Higher Education Ministry. A National Education Council will coordinate reform efforts. Teacher recruitment and upskilling will be prioritised while public universities are set to gain more autonomy and global visibility, especially within Asean, BRICS and the Global South. Labour Reforms The foreign workforce will be reduced from 15% to 10% by 2030 through tighter levy enforcement, automation and local hiring. The TVET Madani Programme will be upgraded, including tailored tracks for tahfiz and huffaz students. Three new certification tiers will align TVET with the Malaysian Qualifications Framework. In 2024 alone, 212,000 students were enrolled in TVET. Anwar said labour reforms were critical for ensuring resilience and equity. Fair wages and gig worker protection The government will standardise wages across sectors and extend social protection to all workers, including those in the gig economy. The minimum wage will be broadened to cover graduates and semi-skilled workers under Masco Code 8 and above. GLCs and GLICs are urged to lead by example in offering fair wages. A Non-Work-Related Accident Scheme will also be introduced. A new legislative framework will protect digital economy workers. Affordable homes The government aims to deliver one million affordable homes by 2035, with 492,000 already completed or underway. Initiatives such as Residensi Madani, the Public Servants Housing Programme and state-led projects will be expanded. The Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme will support B40 and M40 buyers. Industrialised Building System and Building Integrated Management will help cut costs. Kota Madani in Putrajaya will serve as a model for inclusive urban living. Infrastructure expansion A major infrastructure push will upgrade road and rail networks nationwide. Developments will span both coasts, with urban mobility boosted through transit-oriented development, 217 new train sets and expanded bus fleets. Rural areas will benefit from 2,800km of upgraded roads in Kapit, Bagan Datuk, Lipis and beyond. The share of cargo rail will rise from 6% to 13%, reducing road congestion and crash risks. Health taxes and public wellness Health taxes will be expanded beyond sugar to cover tobacco, vape and alcohol, aimed at curbing non-communicable diseases and shifting public behaviour. Anwar said the move is a public health measure to ease pressure on the health system. Strengthening the health system RM40 billion will be channelled to the health sector to cut out-of-pocket costs and expand access. The Madani Medical Scheme will be broadened to ensure wider hospitals and clinics will be upgraded in key states.
News18
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
You Think Simple Can't Be Stylish? Sara Ali Khan Just Showed How To Nail It
Sara Ali Khan was seen wearing a breezy yellow crop top paired with wide-legged white trousers, creating a playful yet sophisticated travel look. Bollywood's style icon Sara Ali Khan was spotted at Mumbai Airport. Like always, she once again turned heads with her impeccable airport style. The actress, known for her easy and elegant fashion statements, was captured by the paparazzi stationed outside. Flaunting her signature smile, she greeted the shutterbugs warmly and waved at them. Now, a video of her stylish outing has gone viral. In a video shared on Instagram, Sara was seen wearing a breezy yellow crop top paired with wide-legged white trousers, creating a playful yet sophisticated travel look. She balanced comfort and style with white sliders and a quirky tote bag. Adding just the right amount of flair to her ensemble were her nerdy glasses, a stack of colourful bracelets with minimal makeup, and loose hair. View this post on Instagram A post shared by F I L M Y G Y A N (@filmygyan) Sara Ali Khan's Last Movie The actress was last seen in Anurag Basu's modern-day anthology Metro… In Dino. The film explores themes of love, loss and resilience across four cities—Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore. The romantic drama brought together a stellar cast, including Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkona Sen Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi. The movie is a spiritual successor to the 2007 hit film Life in a… Metro. It showed how couples navigate through their relationships, resilience, and rediscovering love amidst the chaos of life. Sara Ali Khan's Upcoming Film The actress is roped in for Vvan- Force of the Forest, co-starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannah Bhatia. The upcoming folk thriller is expected to be out in theatres in 2026. It is co-directed by TVF founder Arunabh Kumar and Deepak Kumar Mishra. Next, she will collaborate with Atrangi Re director Aanand L. Rai for Tere Ishk Mein. The passionate love story, up for release in November this year, stars Dhanush and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles. Sara will also be seen in the sequel of Pati, Patni Aur Woh, opposite Kartik Aaryan and Wamiqa Gabbi. Produced by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment, she also has a high-profile action-comedy film with director Aakash Kaushik. The film marks Sara's first on-screen pairing with Ayushmann Khuranna. First Published: July 31, 2025, 13:56 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Over 90,000 items in over 4,500 stores available under RM100 Sara aid
KUALA LUMPUR: The one-off RM100 cash assistance under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) can be spent at RM4,5000 registered retail outlets covering more than 90,000 daily items. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the list of supermarkets and retail stores is not final, and any interested supermarkets or retail outlets may contact the MyKasih Foundation to register. "It covers over 90,000 essential daily items in 14 categories, including staple foods like rice and eggs, household cleaning supplies, medication, school needs and personal hygiene products. "Some of the registered outlets include Giant, Mydin, Bataras, C-Mart, and TF Value-Mart. Retailers wishing to register as Sara Partners can apply through the MyKasih Foundation," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera), who asked about the application process for the RM100 financial assistance allocated to all under the Sara initiative. Amir Hamzah said they are also open to suggestions to review and include more eligible items. "We will continue to expand this scheme to allow more shops to participate. They simply need to register with Yayasan MyKasih and comply with the guidelines provided. "We encourage wider participation to broaden access. Initially, Sara (back then) only covered a small selection of essential goods, but now more than 90,000 items are eligible for purchase using the credit, and we continue to make improvements. We are open to suggestions," he said. In response to concerns raised by Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN–Kuala Krai) regarding the impact of the Jualan Rahmah and Sara aid on small traders who struggle to compete with markets offering subsidised goods, Amir Hamzah said there are various avenues available to support small businesses, including existing government schemes. "We encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to explore these initiatives, which can help further stimulate and grow their businesses," he said. On July 22, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that all Malaysians aged 18 and above will receive a one-off RM100 assistance through their MyKad under the Sumbangan Sara programme.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
RM100 aid: Beware fake Sara assistance links
KUALA LUMPUR: The public is advised not to fall for scams or fraudulent messages inviting them to register for the RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme, as the assistance will be directly credited to all MyKad holders, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said no registration or application is required from Malaysian citizens, as eligibility for Sara is automatic based on data from the National Registration Department (NRD). "Purchases can be made from Aug 31 to Dec 31. "This marks the first time that cash aid is extended to all adult citizens. "A total of 22 million Malaysians are eligible to receive this individual credit. "This initiative involves an expenditure of RM2 billion. "No registration or application is required, as eligibility for Sara is automatically determined based on data of all adult citizens holding a MyKad. Data from the NRD will be used for this purpose. "The public is therefore advised not to fall for scams or fraudulent schemes inviting them to register," he said during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat. He was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera), who asked about the application process for the RM100 financial assistance allocated to all under the Sara initiative. Amir Hamzah said that, based on feedback, people are comfortable using their MyKad for government-related matters. He said that Sara has received positive feedback from recipients, with an average utilisation rate of 93 per cent so far in 2025. "Based on programme performance, the highest utilisation rate was recorded in Perlis at 96 per cent, followed closely by Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah at 95 per cent, through purchases made at registered retail stores using MyKad. "Field monitoring sessions found that recipients are generally satisfied with the Sara programme," he said. On July 22, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that all Malaysians aged 18 and above will receive a one-off RM100 assistance through their MyKad under the Sumbangan Sara programme.
