M’sians get to enjoy credit for upcoming CNY and Ramadan
PUTRAJAYA: The RM100 assistance under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme for every Malaysian aged 18 and above will continue this year and be credited on Feb 9, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the assistance is given in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations and Ramadan.
“For all 22 million Malaysians who are above 18 years old, we will credit it on Feb 9 to help with preparations for Ramadan and the Chinese New Year,” he said at the Prime Minister’s Department’s monthly assembly.
The Sara cash assistance can be used to purchase necessities across 14 product categories, including rice, cooking oil, flour and household essentials at over 4,100 participating premises nationwide.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the first phase of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash contribution, amounting to up to RM500, will be credited on Jan 20.
“Last year, 69% of Malaysians received the STR, and that was nearly RM2.1bil,” he said.
Anwar also said the government will expand new registrations under the Sara programme to include small traders, such as grocery shop operators.
This is to address the issue of some rural residents still not registered in the existing system, he added.
Anwar said the target is to involve 10,000 small traders nationwide, thereby extending the reach of the assistance at the grassroots level.
Anwar also said the RM150 early schooling aid will be credited on Jan 13 to school students up to Form Six to help families prepare for the new schooling year.
“Make sure that the money is spent for your children,” he said, adding that this aid cost the government an allocation of about RM800mil.
