Dozens of residents in Semporna’s island communities breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme reached their shores for the first time, delivering much-needed financial aid directly to those without bank accounts.
On Pulau Bum Bum and Pulau Mabul, residents were spared the costly and time-consuming journey to Semporna town on mainland Borneo.
Arlinda Rudi, of Kampung Pulau Mabul, said a typical trip to town takes about 40 minutes each way by boat.
“It is very convenient when they come to our island to carry out this initiative. We really hope that this will happen again in the future,” the 33-year-old waitress told FMT.
Another resident, 27-year-old diving instructor Abdurrahman Abdullah, said the aid helps ease the burden on his household of 14, including his parents and siblings.
“This is the first time my family and I are receiving this aid. It will help us buy food to stock our kitchen,” he said.
Yesterday’s STR distribution on Pulau Mabul went to 11 recipients at the home of village head Yusof Jalal.
The STR payout in Semporna is part of a broader nationwide outreach coordinated by the finance ministry, in collaboration with the Inland Revenue Board, Bank Simpanan Nasional, MyKasih Foundation, the Orang Asli development department and local district agencies.
According to treasury deputy secretary-general (policy) Zamzuri Abdul Aziz, as of July 25, over RM52.7 million in STR and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance has been distributed to 46,568 recipients in 60 remote locations in the country.
This includes RM26.7 million to 23,105 recipients in Sabah, RM23.2 million to 20,775 recipients in Sarawak and RM2.8 million to 2,688 Orang Asli recipients in Peninsular Malaysia.
On Pulau Bum Bum, officials set up temporary counters at SK Balimbang to facilitate aid distribution, and a Jualan Rahmah stall was also set up, offering essential items such as rice and eggs at subsidised prices.
Here, villagers used their MyKad, credited under the Sara programme, to make cashless purchases of these daily necessities.
Fisherman Abdul Kasie Abd Hamid from Kampung Balimbang welcomed the convenience of having an aid distribution centre so close to home.
“It used to take up to 20 minutes to get to town by boat. And when we get there, we usually have to line up for long hours in the hot sun before we receive our aid,” said the 51-year-old.
Kamis Bata, 59, from Kampung Look Butun, said he used to spend RM10 per round trip to collect his STR aid and is now relieved to save on travel costs.
“I am thankful the government is aware of those of us who live on these islands. This gives a chance to those of us who do not have bank accounts,” he said.
The Sara programme, which complements STR, was expanded in April 2025 from 700,000 to 5.4 million recipients, with the number of participating retail outlets increasing from 700 to 4,100 nationwide.
In Sabah, 95% of recipients have already used their MyKad to make purchases under the programme, the highest rate in the country.
A one-off credit payment of RM100 under Sara will also be disbursed to all adult Malaysians between Aug 31 and Dec 31, as part of a special National Day initiative.
