Bukit keteri: RM100 may seem like a small amount to some, but for Nursyafiqah Sobri, 31, it has become a 'golden capital' that is helping to transform her family's life. Each month, the housewife from Bukit Keteri carefully sets aside RM30 from the RM100 Basic Rahmah Contribution (SARA) assistance received by her husband to use as capital for making and selling traditional kuih.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nursyafiqah's husband receives the SARA assistance, which amounts to RM100 a month. While it is intended for necessities, Nursyafiqah uses RM30 of it to buy flour for her kuih business, contributing to easing the family's financial burden. The remaining amount is spent on essential items like rice.
Nursyafiqah, who has two children aged six and 11, sells traditional kuih such as seri muka, onde-onde, popia, and apom, distributing them to several shops in her area. Her home-based business generates between RM50 to RM80 a week. Despite the modest income, she is grateful for the relief it provides in supporting her family, including her husband, who earns RM1,700 a month as a security guard, and their elderly parents who live with them.
She emphasizes the significance of the SARA assistance, which she views as a timely and necessary government initiative. The monthly aid is something the family eagerly anticipates. Nursyafiqah hopes for future increases in the SARA assistance to cope with rising prices of essential goods.
Under Budget 2025, the annual SARA assistance has been increased to RM2,100 from RM1,200 the previous year. This initiative aligns with the MADANI Economic Framework, focusing on empowering low-income individuals through equitable opportunities, improved living standards, and comprehensive social protection.
To enhance public convenience, the government has expanded the range of goods eligible for purchase under the SARA programme to 14 categories. The number of registered participating retail outlets and supermarkets has also grown significantly, from 700 last year to over 4,100 premises nationwide as of July 2025.