SARA AID A LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES COPING WITH POST-RAYA EXPENSES

KOTA BHARU, April 6 (Bernama) -- With household expenses piling up after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid which has been increased and expanded to include more recipients, has become a timely relief for many Malaysians trying to stretch their ringgit.

For Syed Syazwan Syed Zaki, 34, the RM100 he received through SARA for the first time came at just the right moment. But instead of spending it during the festivities, he chose to save it for more important needs after the celebration.

“After Raya, I plan to buy basic items like rice, cooking oil and sugar. The next payment, I’ll use for hygiene products, medicine and school supplies for my children,” he said.

“This aid really helps lighten my load, especially as the head of the family dealing with rising living costs,” he told Bernama.

SARA payments of RM100 per month were credited directly to recipients’ MyKad from January to March this year. From April 1, the amount has been increased to RM200 monthly, benefiting 5.4 million people - a big jump from just 700,000 previously.

For many families, this small but regular assistance is making a big difference.

Fatihah Aqilah Sabri, 31, a housewife living in Penambang, Kota Bharu, said she’s been receiving SARA since January and is saving the money to buy baby essentials for her one-year-old.

“I didn’t spend it right away. I’m planning to use it after Raya to buy milk and diapers for my baby.

“This is my second year receiving SARA. It may not be a huge amount, but it really helps our family get by,” she said.

For recipients like Syed Syazwan and Fatihah, SARA isn’t just extra cash - it’s a much-needed lifeline that helps them stay afloat, especially when expenses pile up after the festive season.

-- BERNAMA