Latest news with #eKasih
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MyKad and expanded SARA list enhance purchasing power in Malaysia
MELAKA: The integration of MyKad and an expanded list of approved items under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme has significantly improved accessibility and purchasing power for beneficiaries since April. The system streamlines transactions, eliminating the need for additional verification during payments. Housewife Natasha Irma Ishak, 30, who supplements her income by selling doughnuts from home, praised the convenience of MyKad. 'The system is efficient and hassle-free. I no longer worry about forgetting my phone or running out of mobile data while shopping,' she told Bernama. However, she hopes for wider adoption, particularly in rural areas, to ensure more beneficiaries can access the aid. Cleaner M. Saraswathy, 40, also commended the system, noting smooth transactions at supermarkets and grocery stores. She suggested broadening the list of eligible items to include more household and personal care products. 'The aid helps me manage monthly expenses, especially before payday. I also appreciate that unused balances roll over,' she said. SARA provides additional support to Rahmah Cash Aid recipients classified as poor or hardcore poor under the eKasih system. The initiative aligns with the government's MADANI Economy framework, aimed at uplifting vulnerable groups. Under the current administration, annual SARA assistance has risen to RM2,100 per eligible household, up from RM1,200 last year. Since April 1, monthly aid has increased to RM200, benefiting 5.4 million recipients.
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Just a tap with MyKad: SARA provides timely relief for Labuan's low-income families
LABUAN: 'Using MyKad makes everything more accessible, especially for people like us who are always budgeting tightly. It's also discreet, nobody has to know you're receiving assistance'. Those are the words of Norlela Jumat, a cleaner and mother from Labuan. Describing the quiet relief brought by the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative, she said that the aid helps fill the financial gap between paydays - a crucial support for her family's day-to-day needs. With monthly credit automatically linked to recipients' MyKad, the assistance can be used directly at selected supermarkets, making the purchase of essential goods faster, easier, and more secure. Nurhidayah Olivia Abdullah, 29, a member of the People's Volunteer Corps (RELA) who relies on irregular income, echoed similar sentiments, saying that since she began receiving the assistance in April, the MyKad system has provided her with the much-needed peace of mind. 'It's been a huge help. I no longer have to worry if I have enough cash for essentials. I just go and scan my MyKad at the counter. The process is usually fast and seamless,' she told Bernama recently. Other recipients, Jamnah Sabah, 48, also a RELA member, said both SARA and the cash-based Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme came at the right time for her family. 'For SARA, I appreciate the ease of presenting my MyKad at the store. It saves time, and I don't need to explain or show additional documents; it really helps,' she said. Single father Roslan Idris, 38, who juggles two part-time jobs to support his three school-going children, said that the combination of SARA and STR has helped him stay afloat. 'STR helped with school needs, while SARA ensured my kitchen wasn't empty. The fact that I just use my MyKad at checkout is the best part. No hassle, no extra steps. It makes a difference when you're rushing between jobs,' he said. Meanwhile, Siti Aminah Matdehanan, 44, an office cleaner earning RM1,400 monthly, said the aid has enabled her to consistently provide for her family. 'The MyKad method is straightforward. I don't need to queue at counters for vouchers or cash out benefits, it's just swiped and done. That kind of efficiency matters,' she said. The SARA programme provides additional support to STR recipients classified as poor or hardcore poor under eKasih. This initiative reflects the 'raise the floor' thrust of the MADANI Economy framework, which aims to improve the quality of life for all Malaysians to ensure equitable benefits and opportunities, a decent standard of living and social protection for the rakyat. Under the MADANI Government, SARA's annual assistance has increased to RM2,100 for eligible households registered under the eKasih system, a significant jump from RM1,200 provided last year. From January to March 2025, recipients received RM100 monthly, directly credited to their MyKad accounts. Starting April 1, this amount was increased to RM200, benefiting a broader pool of 5.4 million recipients. On March 24, the government rolled out Phase 2 of STR payments, benefiting 8.5 million recipients, comprising 60 per cent of Malaysia's adults, with aid of up to RM650. This phase involved RM1.7 billion in funds, an increase from RM1.5 billion last year.
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
SARA provides timely relief for Labuan's low-income families
LABUAN: 'Using MyKad makes everything more accessible, especially for people like us who are always budgeting tightly. It's also discreet, nobody has to know you're receiving assistance'. Those are the words of Norlela Jumat, a cleaner and mother from Labuan. Describing the quiet relief brought by the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative, she said that the aid helps fill the financial gap between paydays - a crucial support for her family's day-to-day needs. With monthly credit automatically linked to recipients' MyKad, the assistance can be used directly at selected supermarkets, making the purchase of essential goods faster, easier, and more secure. Nurhidayah Olivia Abdullah, 29, a member of the People's Volunteer Corps (RELA) who relies on irregular income, echoed similar sentiments, saying that since she began receiving the assistance in April, the MyKad system has provided her with the much-needed peace of mind. 'It's been a huge help. I no longer have to worry if I have enough cash for essentials. I just go and scan my MyKad at the counter. The process is usually fast and seamless,' she told Bernama recently. Other recipients, Jamnah Sabah, 48, also a RELA member, said both SARA and the cash-based Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme came at the right time for her family. 'For SARA, I appreciate the ease of presenting my MyKad at the store. It saves time, and I don't need to explain or show additional documents; it really helps,' she said. Single father Roslan Idris, 38, who juggles two part-time jobs to support his three school-going children, said that the combination of SARA and STR has helped him stay afloat. 'STR helped with school needs, while SARA ensured my kitchen wasn't empty. The fact that I just use my MyKad at checkout is the best part. No hassle, no extra steps. It makes a difference when you're rushing between jobs,' he said. Meanwhile, Siti Aminah Matdehanan, 44, an office cleaner earning RM1,400 monthly, said the aid has enabled her to consistently provide for her family. 'The MyKad method is straightforward. I don't need to queue at counters for vouchers or cash out benefits, it's just swiped and done. That kind of efficiency matters,' she said. The SARA programme provides additional support to STR recipients classified as poor or hardcore poor under eKasih. This initiative reflects the 'raise the floor' thrust of the MADANI Economy framework, which aims to improve the quality of life for all Malaysians to ensure equitable benefits and opportunities, a decent standard of living and social protection for the rakyat. Under the MADANI Government, SARA's annual assistance has increased to RM2,100 for eligible households registered under the eKasih system, a significant jump from RM1,200 provided last year. From January to March 2025, recipients received RM100 monthly, directly credited to their MyKad accounts. Starting April 1, this amount was increased to RM200, benefiting a broader pool of 5.4 million recipients. On March 24, the government rolled out Phase 2 of STR payments, benefiting 8.5 million recipients, comprising 60 per cent of Malaysia's adults, with aid of up to RM650. This phase involved RM1.7 billion in funds, an increase from RM1.5 billion last year.
