WET WEATHER AFFECTS RUBBER TAPPERS, STR AND SARA ASSISTANCE PROVIDE LIFELINE

By Rosnani Saad

SIK, May 4 (Bernama) -- The rainy season not only brings weather changes but also affects the daily lives of thousands of rural families who depend on natural resources for survival.

Rainy days are particularly challenging for rubber tappers as they cannot work and thus lose their primary income source.

This is the reality for Siti Zaleha Harun, 41, from Kampung Dusun here, who relies on rubber tapping to support her six children after her husband became partially paralysed several years ago.

"My family relies on the income from rubber tapping to buy daily necessities and pay for the schooling of three of my six children. However, it has been raining frequently over the past couple of weeks, which has prevented me from going out to work, and my income has been significantly affected," she told Bernama.

In such circumstances, Siti Zaleha said the government aid through Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) provides hope, helping her family cover daily expenses.

She said the STR and SARA assistance has been crucial in helping the family meet household needs, school expenses, and care for her ailing husband.

"My husband was recently admitted to the hospital for treatment. I used the STR aid to purchase disposable diapers for him.

"Without this help, it would be tough for me to provide for my husband's needs, given how little and inconsistent the income from rubber tapping is," she said, hoping that the government would increase aid for those in need.

Another rubber tapper, Mohd Zahir Md Aris, 45, from Kampung Charuk Tok Pong, said his income is insufficient to support his family, including four school-going children.

"The income from rubber tapping isn't enough, especially with the rainy season now. My wife also earns a little by babysitting to help support the family. The SARA and STR aid can at least lighten the burden for groceries and daily needs," he said.

The government started distributing Phase Two of the STR payments on March 24, allocating RM1.7 billion, up from RM1.5 billion last year. Nearly nine million recipients, comprising 60 per cent of Malaysia's adult population, are set to receive assistance of up to RM650.

SARA is a MADANI Government initiative to reduce the cost-of-living burden for recipients' groups by crediting aid directly to recipients' MyKad.

As of April 1, the SARA program expanded to 5.4 million recipients, increasing eightfold from 700,000. Monthly assistance has been raised to as much as RM200, depending on the category, up from RM100.

-- BERNAMA