SARA BECOMES A LIFELINE FOR SINGLE MOTHERS AMID RISING COST OF LIVING

KUALA KRAI, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative continues to provide a vital support system for low-income single mothers in Kelantan, helping them cope with the rising cost of living.

Siti Zulaika Awang, 26, from Kampung Chenulang, said that the SARA initiative, a targeted cash assistance programme, distributed through MyKad at 3,500 registered retail stores nationwide, has been a great help in covering daily necessities and providing essentials for her children.

“I would like to thank the government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for this assistance. It is fully utilised to purchase essential items,” she told Bernama recently.

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She added that, although the amount received may not be large, it brings significant relief to single mothers like herself, who have no stable income and rely on daily wages.

“At the very least, I don’t have to worry too much every time I go to the market or grocery store. This assistance has significantly eased the burden,” she said.

Meanwhile, another beneficiary, Haryani Haron, 41, a mother of four from Kampung Batu Mengkebang, also described the SARA initiative as one of the most meaningful forms of government support.

“This RM100 aid must be spent wisely. It truly helps in sustaining life, especially in the challenging economic times,” she said.

She added that necessities such as food, school supplies and medicine for her children are priorities, and the aid covers some of these needs.

On April 12, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the number of SARA recipients in Kelantan has increased to 387,000 this year, up from 134,000 last year.

The government has also allocated RM1.1 billion for this initiative, as an ongoing effort to support Malaysians affected by the rising cost of living.

-- BERNAMA