RM100 cash aid and Rahmah sales boost ease cost of living
PUTRAJAYA: The one-off RM100 cash assistance for every Malaysian aged 18 and above, along with the increased allocation for the Rahmah MADANI Sales, has been described as a timely and appropriate move to help the people cope with the rising cost of living.
Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (DPIM) president Datuk Mohammad Sahar Mat Din said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement reflects the government's targeted and comprehensive approach to addressing long-standing issues faced by the people.
'Overall, it is a very appropriate and timely move, especially the RM100 initiative under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) or basic Rahmah contribution initiative and the increased allocation for the Rahmah MADANI Sales,' he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Bandar Tun Razak Single Mothers Association, Zaini Zakaria, described the RM100 assistance as proof of the government's concern for the low-income group and expressed support for the continuation of the initiative.
However, the 66-year-old Zaini hopes the government will consider expanding the scope of purchases under SARA to include wet goods such as chicken, fish, and vegetables, which are also essential daily necessities.
'If we can buy wet goods, that would be good too. Sometimes the biggest kitchen expenses come from fresh produce, not just dry goods,' she said.
Personal driver Nor Azreen Nabila Mohd Maliki, 30, also welcomed the government's decision to maintain toll rates and fuel prices, saying it provides much-needed relief for those who commute daily to work.
Nor Azreen Nabila said fuel and toll costs are among her most burdensome fixed expenses.
'I really appreciate the government's move to postpone toll hikes and maintain fuel prices. My daily commute is long, so any savings on these costs really help,' she said.
For Lee Wei Choon, 48, an engineer at a private company, the SARA assistance reflects the Malaysia MADANI concept, which emphasises unity among people of various races and religions.
'I feel touched because this is the first time we, the M40 group, have received direct benefits from the government. All this while, we felt that we were only taxpayers, but this time, in the spirit of National Day, I feel fortunate to be Malaysian.
'Moreover, I have many options of supermarkets and locations to use this assistance. The initiative announced by the Prime Minister will not only ease the cost of living but also make it easier for us to benefit from it,' said the father of two girls.
The Prime Minister, in his announcement today, said the RM100 would be channelled via MyKad under the SARA programme, benefiting 22 million adult citizens with a total allocation of RM2 billion.
He said the aid, in conjunction with National Day on Aug 31, is an immediate measure to ease the people's cost-of-living burden while appreciating their contributions to the country.
At the same time, the allocation for the Rahmah MADANI Sales has been doubled to RM600 million this year, compared with RM300 million previously. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
22 minutes ago
- The Star
YelaoShr's franchise leap marks new chapter in Malaysia's early childhood education
MALAYSIA'S education sector reached a meaningful turning point today as YelaoShr marked its transition into a licensed franchise brand through the onboarding of 66 new franchisees from across the country. This significant development reflects the company's evolution from a homegrown early childhood education provider into a structured, scalable business model that empowers wider participation in early childhood education in Malaysia. Officiated by the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) chairman Datuk Dr Radzali Hassan, the ceremony highlighted YelaoShr's readiness to grow through a nationwide franchise network. With its framework now aligned under Malaysian franchise law, the brand is opening new pathways for aspiring edupreneurs to deliver high-quality, child-focused learning within their own communities. This expansion effort is supported by a dynamic group of franchise partners comprising educators, parents, and first-time entrepreneurs, each committed to making personalised education more accessible. Their involvement not only signals strong market confidence in YelaoShr's model but also lays the groundwork for sustainable grassroots growth driven by local ownership and standardised support. Driving this next chapter are four core entities that anchor YelaoShr's ecosystem. YelaoShr Education Group Sdn Bhd delivers language and communication programmes recognised by the Education Ministry; YelaoShr Education Academy Sdn Bhd leads teacher training and TVET initiatives; Sribhagawan Innovation Group Sdn Bhd develops proprietary education technologies; and ClassOne Elearning Education Sdn Bhd enables scalable, cross-border digital learning. Together, these entities support YelaoShr's ambition to operate 300 learning centres nationwide by 2028 while setting its sight on regional expansion to countries like Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. Central to this growth strategy is the franchise model itself, a platform that blends educational purpose with entrepreneurial opportunity, enabling communities to take ownership of meaningful, high-quality learning experiences. 'Franchising, when done right, can unlock social impact at scale. When we franchise a good idea, we multiply its benefits, not just in profits, but in reach, accessibility, and opportunity,' remarked Radzali. 'And that is exactly what YelaoShr is doing today,' he added. To commemorate the occasion, the EdTech outfit unveiled Finnish Education is What Malaysian Children Need the Most, a book that draws on the strengths of Finland's renowned education model and Malaysia's Madani Education Framework 2025–2035 to present a unified vision for child-centric learning. It captures the essence of YelaoShr's approach, an ecosystem where educators, students, and families co-create learning environments that balance structure with imagination, and academic rigour with emotional intelligence. 'We're building an ecosystem where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive regardless of where they come from,' expressed co-founder Carol Yap Yee Yee. Meanwhile, co-founder and chief executive officer, David Yap Wing Fai, said in his speech, that franchising is not just a business model, but a mission of empowerment. 'Our goal is to make it easier for more Malaysians, especially women, educators, and young professionals, to own and operate education centres with a proven system, with real support, and with meaningful impact. "As YelaoShr embarks on nationwide expansion, we want to grow to 300 centres across Malaysia by 2028; not just for numbers, but to see 300 success stories of transformation.' To ensure a strong talent pipeline supports this growth, YelaoShr signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HELP University. The collaboration allows HELP students to undergo internships at YelaoShr centres and offers high-performing graduates a transition pathway into the brand's franchise development programme complete with mentorship, training, and startup support. The partnership also includes annual sponsored awards to help outstanding graduates launch their own YelaoShr centres, reflecting the group's commitment to nurturing future edupreneurs from the ground up. Founded by David and Carol, YelaoShr has grown from a modest home-based language enrichment programme into a national education platform with over 60 centres across Malaysia. Anchored in principles of equitable access, sustainability, and innovation, the company's evolution has been driven by a clear mission: to bridge learning gaps, nurture potential, and create pathways for students regardless of their background. With its initiatives aligned to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, YelaoShr has also embedded gender equality and inclusive education as core pillars of its work. The ceremony concluded with a proud moment for the brand, as YelaoShr was honoured with two recognitions from the Asean Records. The accolades acknowledged the company's achievement in producing the highest number of graduates from Malaysia's first trilingual one-on-one formative age personalised learning programme, as well as for sealing the most franchise memoranda of agreement in a single day by a Malaysian personalised education brand recognised by HundrED for global scalability. To learn more visit To know about franchise opportunities with YelaoShr, log on to
New Straits Times
22 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia, Turkiye reaffirm commitment to defence ties
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Türkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence ties following Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin's official three-day visit to the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul. The Defence Ministry, in a statement today, said Khaled, who led the Malaysian delegation from July 23, held a series of high-level meetings aimed at deepening military cooperation, technology sharing, and joint industrial efforts. "Among his key engagements was a courtesy call on Prof Haluk Görgün, Türkiye's Defence Industries Agency (SSB) president, where he was briefed on the SSB's pivotal role in developing Türkiye's defence sector into one of the world's leading players," it said. The ministry said Khaled also witnessed the handing over of participation contracts to Malaysian firms involved in the upcoming Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2026 exhibition, scheduled at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here from April 20 to 23. "Khaled then held a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan's Minister of Defence Industry, Yugar Mustafayev, where both sides discussed opportunities for collaboration in defence technology, military training, and the exchange of expertise." The ministry said the meeting also marked efforts to expand strategic defence partnerships between Malaysia and Azerbaijan. The Minister also met Türkiye's National Defence Minister, Yaşar Güler, who agreed to further elevate military-to-military cooperation, including joint capacity-building, information exchange, and collaboration in defence science and technology with Malaysia. On the second day of the visit, Khaled visited the Istanbul Shipyard to inspect progress on the Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMSB2) being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy. "The vessel is expected to be launched in mid-2026 and delivered by the end of 2027. Once commissioned, it will bolster the country's maritime defence and coastal surveillance operations," it read, adding that the entourage also visited defence companies including Turkish Aerospace Industries (Tusas), Aselsan, Dasal, Otokar, Ctech, Asfat, Ares Shipyard and Esen. The visit, part of Malaysia's strategic defence diplomacy agenda, reflects the government's continued efforts to build credible international partnerships under the Defence White Paper's third pillar of cooperation, 'Credible Partnerships'. These engagements underscore Malaysia's position in enhancing global defence cooperation to ensure national security and regional stability.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
CTOS posts 2Q net profit of RM21.16mil
PETALING JAYA: CTOS Digital Bhd remains cautiously optimistic about its growth prospects for 2025, underpinned by product innovation, targeted marketing and ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency across its business segments. The group said its key accounts division is expected to benefit from higher adoption of digital and analytical solutions, while its commercial segment will continue to focus on customer acquisition and retention. Meanwhile, the direct-to-consumer segment aims to deepen engagement with Malaysia's 16 million credit-active consumers through partnerships, financial literacy initiatives and targeted campaigns. 'The international business segment is also expected to continue contributing positively to the group's financial performance,' CTOS said, adding that it remains committed to delivering sustainable growth in the periods ahead. For the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 (2Q25), CTOS reported a net profit of RM21.16mil, down from RM25.5mil a year earlier. This translated to a lower basic earnings per share (EPS) of 0.9 sen compared with 1.1 sen in the same quarter last year. Quarterly revenue rose to RM79mil from RM76.6mil in 2Q24, supported by stronger contributions from the group's Malaysian business. The growth was largely driven by increased demand for digital reports and digital solutions across both local and international markets. For the first half of the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025 (1HFY25), the group posted a net profit of RM35.6mil or EPS of 1.5 sen, compared with earnings of RM46.32mil or 2 sen EPS it recorded for 1HFY24. Revenue for the six-month period climbed 4.6% on-year to RM155.07mil. CTOS said segment profit from its Malaysian operations fell to RM36.8mil, primarily due to increased operational expenses. Its international operations, comprising alternative data credit scoring businesses in Indonesia and the Philippines, recorded improved performance, with revenue and profit rising to RM20.2mil and RM1.5mil respectively in 1HFY25, supported by continued growth in client consumption. CTOS declared a second interim dividend of 0.65 sen per share for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025, payable on Oct 24.
