An enterprising housewife has turned the RM100 she received under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) one-off aid programme into seed money for a little side business.
Azizah Wahab, 60, used part of the money to purchase a packet of flour and three cans of sardines to make curry puffs that she now sells for RM8 for a packet of 10.
The pastry is aptly dubbed “Azizah’s SARA sardine curry puffs”.
Azizah, who hails from Umbai, Melaka, is no stranger to small business. During the Covid-19 pandemic she cooked and sold frozen meals to help sustain her family.
This time, opportunity came knocking by way of the RM100 government aid which many found insignificant but holds greater value for recipients from lower income households like hers.
“With just RM20 in capital, I can produce 10 packs of frozen curry puffs. This gives me a RM60 profit. So, if we use it wisely, this RM100 aid can actually be turned into a source of income,” she told FMT.
“I just need to add onion and chilli, while the other ingredients needed can be redeemed using the SARA aid, and thankfully I’m able to produce some tasty sardine curry puffs,” she added.
Azizah’s entrepreneurial initiative attracted attention online after she took to social media to share her experience.
The frozen curry puffs business is not Azizah’s first attempt at entrepreneurship. The first time she went creative with government aid to boost her family’s income was when she used the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) her husband received for another side business.
“This time the government gave everyone RM100. If we all use it to do business, we indirectly help to boost the economy too,” she added.
Azizah also said she was not merely chasing profits but planned to give a part of her earnings to the poor.
“Some people say the RM100 is little but, to me, it’s sufficient. God provides for us in his own ways. If we expand on that provision, we get to help our family and even others who are less privileged.”
On July 23, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that all adult Malaysians would receive RM100 under the SARA programme. The RM2 billion cash aid, distributed through MyKad, will benefit 22 million citizens.
This aid is available to all citizens aged 18 and above, regardless of their income category, and may be spent on 14 categories of essential products at over 7,300 selected retail outlets.
Recipients have until Dec 31 to use the credited amount.
