CASH AID BOOSTS AIDILFITRI PREPARATIONS FOR MALAYSIAN FAMILIES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Financial aid provided through the second phase of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and the Bantuan Khas Kewangan Aidilfitri (BKKA) is helping Malaysians prepare for the upcoming Aidilfitri celebrations.

The funds have allowed recipients to buy essential cooking ingredients, festive cookies and cover travel costs for the holiday period.

Pasar Dato Keramat traffic warden Mohd Azlan Ahmad, 61, said the STR payment help eased the cost of buying ingredients like chicken and beef for his family’s Syawal feast.

"I’m very grateful for this aid and will pass it to my wife for our festive preparations," he said.

Another recipient, Hisham Rahim, 28, said the STR money would help him purchase cookies and snacks for visitors.

"We hadn’t bought any yet because we were waiting for our salaries, so this aid came just in time," he said.

The government began distributing STR Phase Two payments today, allocating RM1.7 billion compared to RM1.5 billion last year. Around 8.5 million recipients, making up 60 per cent of Malaysia's adult population, will receive up to RM650 each.

Civil servant Mohd Fadhli Jobli, 38, said the BKKA payment would help him fund his journey home to Samarahan, Sarawak.

"I thought there would be no more financial aid for civil servants since the government had recently announced a salary hike and special assistance last month. This unexpected support is a big relief," he said.

On social media, Khairul Nizam shared that this year’s financial aid has been the most substantial he has received in his 26 years as a civil servant.

"This year has been exceptional with a salary increase and two rounds of financial aid in February and March. Sadly, I’m retiring next month, but thank you PMX," he wrote.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that the government would provide BKKA payments of RM500 for civil servants in Grade 56 and below, and RM250 for pensioners, with payments due this week.

-- BERNAMA