Tuaran: Residents in the district have begun using the RM100 Rahmah Basic Contribution Assistance (Sara) to purchase daily necessities after it was credited on Sunday, in conjunction with National Day.
A check by Daily Express found shoppers of various ages queuing at a special counter in a supermarket here to make payments using their MyKad.
Mohd Zulkifli Abdullah, 45, who came with his wife, Siti Zaleha Rahman, 41, said they arrived at the supermarket at 10am.
“We came from Tuaran town to buy household essentials such as rice and other groceries,” he said.
“We consider this assistance as a gift for Sabah’s Independence Day anniversary (Aug 31, 1963). It helps ease the burden of household expenses,” added the father of four.
University student Christy Carmela Ireneus, 22, expressed appreciation for the Government’s Sara initiative.
“Today, my two younger siblings and I, accompanied by our parents, bought school supplies as well as household necessities, including a cooker. It’s enough for our family for two weeks,” she said.
“Because so many people came to shop, the payment system was slightly delayed, but fortunately, when our turn came, the transaction went smoothly.”Jackie Juanis, 25, said she had to cancel her shopping plans due to the crowd and a temporary disruption of the special payment counter.
“Perhaps after two or three days, when the place is less crowded, it will be more comfortable to shop,” said Jackie from Tamparuli, adding she would return later since the Sara aid can be used until Dec 31.
According to the Finance Ministry (MoF), the first day of Sara implementation for over 22 million Malaysian adults on Aug 31 saw an overwhelming response, with some 850,000 people spending more than RM50 million by 9.30pm on Sunday.
The high demand caused a surge in transactions, resulting in performance issues with the payment terminals operated through the MyKasih network at several locations.
Although the system ran slower than usual, transactions were still accepted and processed.
MoF and MyKasih said measures were being taken to increase system capacity to ensure smoother purchases from Sept 1.
The Ministry also reminded the public that the one-off RM100 Sara credit remains valid until Dec 31 and can be used at more than 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide.
A check by Daily Express found shoppers of various ages queuing at a special counter in a supermarket here to make payments using their MyKad.
Mohd Zulkifli Abdullah, 45, who came with his wife, Siti Zaleha Rahman, 41, said they arrived at the supermarket at 10am.
“We came from Tuaran town to buy household essentials such as rice and other groceries,” he said.
“We consider this assistance as a gift for Sabah’s Independence Day anniversary (Aug 31, 1963). It helps ease the burden of household expenses,” added the father of four.
University student Christy Carmela Ireneus, 22, expressed appreciation for the Government’s Sara initiative.
“Today, my two younger siblings and I, accompanied by our parents, bought school supplies as well as household necessities, including a cooker. It’s enough for our family for two weeks,” she said.
“Because so many people came to shop, the payment system was slightly delayed, but fortunately, when our turn came, the transaction went smoothly.”Jackie Juanis, 25, said she had to cancel her shopping plans due to the crowd and a temporary disruption of the special payment counter.
“Perhaps after two or three days, when the place is less crowded, it will be more comfortable to shop,” said Jackie from Tamparuli, adding she would return later since the Sara aid can be used until Dec 31.
According to the Finance Ministry (MoF), the first day of Sara implementation for over 22 million Malaysian adults on Aug 31 saw an overwhelming response, with some 850,000 people spending more than RM50 million by 9.30pm on Sunday.
The high demand caused a surge in transactions, resulting in performance issues with the payment terminals operated through the MyKasih network at several locations.
Although the system ran slower than usual, transactions were still accepted and processed.
MoF and MyKasih said measures were being taken to increase system capacity to ensure smoother purchases from Sept 1.
The Ministry also reminded the public that the one-off RM100 Sara credit remains valid until Dec 31 and can be used at more than 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide.
