SARA FOR ALL TURNS INTO ACT OF KINDNESS, OFFERS RELIEF AHEAD OF RAMADAN

By Rashidah Abd Rahim

MELAKA, Feb  17 (Bernama) -- For some, the RM100 received under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) For All cash assistance may seem modest, but in the hands of those who value it, it becomes a lifeline for families struggling to make ends meet.

Raziah Ismail, 40, from Kota Laksamana here, turned her donation into an act of kindness, purchasing rice, eggs, oil, sugar, vermicelli, and biscuits to give to a family facing hardship rather than using it for herself.

“Just as I did with SARA last year, I used the aid to help a family in need. I bought the basic essentials they usually need to get by,” she said to Bernama.

Raziah explained that she was grateful for the assistance but felt fortunate enough with her income from the private sector and that there were others who needed it more.

“I know there are still people around me who don’t have enough. Even though they receive the same aid, these items can be kept as extra supplies, especially with Ramadan coming. This is my way of sharing ‘rezeki’,” she said.

Suzana Sulaiman, 30, a fast-food restaurant worker, said she was grateful for the second SARA For All assistance, especially as it arrived just ahead of the fasting month.

She said the donation would be used by her and her four siblings to purchase essential items such as rice, oil, and sugar for their mother’s home in Bukit Serindit.

“The second SARA aid came just before the fasting month, so we were able to buy the essential kitchen items. During Ramadan, we usually cook and break our fast at our mother’s house,” she said.

For 56-year-old Lee Ah Hock from Banda Hilir, the SARA assistance was meaningful, helping him purchase basic necessities in preparation for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

“Some people say RM100 isn’t much, but for me, it goes a long way. Since I live alone, it’s not about big meals, having rice, oil, and eggs is enough,” he said.

Meanwhile, Joyce Tee, 18, from Bukit Baru, who received SARA For All for the first time, said she would use the money to buy kitchen essentials and help her mother save on household expenses.

“I don’t want to buy anything for myself. I’m happy just being able to help my mother, even if it’s only a little,” she said, hoping to ease her mother’s burden ahead of Ramadan.

The SARA For All programme, which provides a one-off RM100 aid credited through MyKad to all Malaysians aged 18 and above, was disbursed starting Feb 9.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said on Sunday that about 8.1 million recipients had redeemed the aid as of last Friday, with total spending amounting to nearly RM780 million.

-- BERNAMA