PETALING JAYA: Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients are hoping for higher cash aid and an expansion of food categories under Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) in the upcoming Budget 2027.
Among them was kindergarten teaching assistant Nor Asmah Muhamad, who said higher cash aid under STR would help with living expenses while allowing her to save some money.
“If there is some balance, we can keep that as part of our savings.
“I have five children and my household is entitled to RM2,500, but most of the time, we spend most of the money whenever it is credited in phases,” said the 37-year-old.
She also hoped the government would continue the one-off RM100 payment next year, saying it had helped many people with their grocery expenses.
K. Kavitha, 65, a recipient of the monthly Sara aid, hoped the government would consider including fresh produce among the redeemable items.
“It will be helpful if they include vegetables and produce like chicken and fish because many people would need them as part of their diet instead of canned items,” said the retiree.
Lim Chong Sen, 45, a technician, said including fresh goods among the redeemable items is very much needed.
“This will help people have a more balanced diet as they could use the money to buy protein sources.
“Sometimes these items are not affordable and people may not buy them because of the cost,” he said.
Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng expected the government to increase cash aid in the imminent Budget.
Although the economy was performing better than expected, he noted that a good number of individuals and households continued to struggle with the rising cost of living.
“Cash handouts have been effective in ensuring the financial aid reaches the intended recipients quickly and efficiently, as demonstrated in schemes such as MySara and STR together,” he said.
“We can therefore expect the government to increase cash aid and aid-in-kind in line with its fiscal capacity and the need for higher social spending,” he said.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said a higher amount under STR would only be possible if the assistance remained targeted.
“Ensuring more targeted measures will help the government to optimise its limited resources as fuel subsidy measures are also likely to cost more in view of the elevated global crude oil prices.”
