Recipients grateful for Rahmah Cash Aid

IPOH: Consumers, especially those who have received the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) Phase 1 since Jan 29, are making full use of the various promotions carried out by major supermarkets in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration to purchase daily necessities.

A check by Bernama at several supermarkets here found that many recipients have utilised the cash assistance credited to their accounts throughout the past week.

They praised the government’s move to increase the allocation for STR, which is a big help in easing their cost of living burdens.

A recipient, Abd Kadir Soib, 62, who is a retired army personnel from Chemor, said he was grateful to be listed as one of the recipients of STR.

“Nowadays, the people need cash to spend on their necessities, which is why I see STR as the most effective incentive in empowering the people.

“Even though I have retired and my children are all grown up, it still helps reduce my family’s expenses, especially now that the cost of living has so much increased,” he said.

Private company clerk, Noor Shafika Ahmad Husni, 36, described the government’s initiative to increase the aid from RM300 to RM500 this year as very appropriate.

“I have two schoolgoing children. Therefore, during the Chinese New Year break, I seize the chance to purchase school supplies for them,” she explained.

Another recipient, Khalid Aziz, 76, from Changkat Larang, Lahat, said that the STR indeed has a significant impact, especially on the B40 group, in boosting the economy through spending activities.

“As a senior citizen, I am truly grateful to be among the recipients. My wife and I use it for groceries, and we also share it with our grandchildren.

“Thanks to the government for distributing assistance to the people and I hope this initiative will continue,” he said.

This aid is the highest cash assistance ever provided in history to reduce the burden of living expenses.

The payment for Phase 1 of the STR has been increased to RM500 per household compared to the maximum payment of RM300 last year, involving a phased allocation of over RM2.1 billion to eligible individuals starting from Jan 29. — Bernama