Lending a helping hand: Shahelmey presenting a gift to a recipient of the Jom Shopping Raya programme.
KOTA KINABALU: Noraidah Howahab’s face lit with excitement after she picked an outfit for her son at a hypermarket in Putatan for Hari Raya.
“This is for my son ... it will be his baju Raya this year,” said the mother from Tanjung Keramat, located just a kilometre from the Putatan township.
Expressing gratitude for being selected for the Jom Shopping Raya programme, she said the assistance helped lighten her family’s financial burden, especially with the celebration just a week away.
“For my husband and me, the joy is in seeing our son with new clothes for Hari Raya. Apart from his outfit, we can also buy some ingredients for the house,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Umar Stu, shared a similar sentiment, letting his daughter choose her own baju Raya.
“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 programme aimed at easing the financial burden of low-income households during the festive season.
The initiative was jointly organised by the Putatan parliamentary office and the Tanjung Keramat people’s service centre, as well as Servay Hypermarket Putatan.
“The vouchers enabled recipients of mostly lower-income families to buy clothing for Hari Raya, 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.
Shahelmey, who is also Deputy Chief Minister and state 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 Hari Raya with dignity and joy,” he said.
