KOTA KINABALU: Noraidah Howahab carefully picked out a festive outfit for her son at a hypermarket in Putatan, her face lit with excitement.
"This is for my son … it will be his baju Raya this year," said the mother from Tanjung Keramat, located just a kilometre from Putatan township.
Expressing gratitude for being selected for the Jom Shopping Raya programme, she said the assistance helped lighten their financial burden, especially with Hari Raya just a week away.
"For my husband and me, the joy is in seeing our son with new clothes for Raya. Apart from his outfit, we can also buy some ingredients to cook Raya dishes," she said when met on Sunday (March 23).
Another recipient, Umar Stu, shared a similar sentiment, letting his daughter choose her own baju Raya this year.
"Shopping is fun, thanks to the RM200 voucher given through this programme. We don’t often get to buy her new clothes," he said.
Both were among 200 families in Tanjung Keramat who received vouchers through the Jom Shopping Raya programme, aimed at easing the financial strain on low-income households during the festive season.
The initiative was jointly organised by the Putatan Parliament Office and N29 Tanjung Keramat people’s service centres and Servay Hypermarket Putatan.
“The vouchers allowed recipients, mostly lower-income families, to buy Raya clothing, food items, and baking essentials. While the primary goal was to ensure children had new outfits for the celebration, the flexibility of the vouchers meant families could prioritise their most urgent needs,” said Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
The Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister highlighted the significance of such efforts in supporting struggling communities.
"This programme is not just about financial relief. It is about ensuring that every family, regardless of their circumstances, can celebrate Aidilfitri with dignity and joy," he said.
He added that the initiative is part of a broader effort to help underprivileged families during Ramadan, ensuring financial hardships do not overshadow the festive spirit.
