THE disbursement of the Second Phase of the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) and the Special Aidilfitri Financial Assistance (BKKA) has provided a much-needed financial boost for public sector employees, helping them prepare for the upcoming Aidilfitri celebrations.
Many beneficiaries have allocated the funds towards purchasing essential items for their festive meals, including ingredients for traditional dishes, snacks for guests, and covering travel costs to return to their hometowns.
Bernama cited Mohd Azlan Ahmad, a 61-year-old traffic warden at Pasar Dato Keramat, expressed his gratitude for the STR, stating that it would significantly ease the financial burden of preparing for Aidilfitri, especially in purchasing fresh produce like chicken and beef for his family’s Syawal meal.
“I’m very thankful for this assistance. I’ll pass it to my wife to help with our family’s preparations for the celebration,” he said.
Another STR recipient, Hisham Rahim, 28, mentioned that the financial aid would enable him to purchase festive treats like cookies and biscuits for guests visiting during Syawal.
“We hadn’t had the chance to buy cookies and biscuits yet as we were waiting for our salary, but now with the STR payment, we can buy these items,” he shared with Bernama.
The government is allocating RM1.7 billion for the Second Phase of STR payments, which will benefit 8.5 million recipients. This represents an increase from last year’s allocation of RM1.5 billion. Up to 60% of Malaysian adults are expected to receive up to RM650 each.
Meanwhile, public servant Mohd Fadhli Jobli, 38, highlighted how the BKKA would assist him in covering the costs of travelling back to his hometown of Samarahan, Sarawak, for Aidilfitri.
“I thought there wouldn’t be any more financial assistance for civil servants after the salary increase and the previous special financial aid announcement last month. But now, I’ve received more good news. This helps ease the burden of travelling home for the festivities,” he remarked.
On social media, Khairul Nizam shared his appreciation for the financial aid, calling it the most generous he had received in his 26 years of civil service.
“Alhamdulillah, after 26 years as a civil servant, this year has been the most rewarding. I received salary increases and special financial aid twice, in February and March. But sadly, I’ll be retiring next month. Thank you, PMX,” he posted.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would disburse RM500 in BKKA to civil servants in grades 56 and below, and RM250 to retired government employees, with payments scheduled for this week. – March 24, 2025
