Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying traveled deep into rural Sabah to help struggling families. She brought cash aid programs directly to people who live far from banks and government offices. The minister visited Beluran to check how well the Rahmah Cash Aid and Basic Rahmah Assistance programs work for remote communities. Her team launched special shopping events and brought mobile banking trucks to serve isolated villages. Nearly 400 locals showed up to receive help and open their first bank accounts.
Malaysia has over 566,000 people who get cash aid but cannot access regular banking services. Sabah alone counts 62,000 residents without bank accounts among its 830,000 aid recipients. Bank Simpanan Nasional sent mobile branches to reach these forgotten communities with basic financial services. People can make deposits and withdrawals without traveling hundreds of miles to the nearest town. The mobile banking trucks offer account opening services for families who never had formal banking before.
The Basic Rahmah Assistance program lets people buy essential items using their identity cards at registered shops. About 94 percent of Sabah recipients already use this service to purchase household necessities. The program exploded from 700,000 users to 5.4 million people across Malaysia since April. Government officials expanded the list of approved items to include cleaning supplies and raised spending limits from 1,200 ringgit to 2,100 ringgit per year.
Malaysia spent over 410 million ringgit on cash aid for Sabah families during the first two payment rounds. The government allocated a record 13 billion ringgit for both assistance programs this year. Officials promise that prudent money management creates more opportunities to invest in social protection and public services for all Malaysians.
Malaysia has over 566,000 people who get cash aid but cannot access regular banking services. Sabah alone counts 62,000 residents without bank accounts among its 830,000 aid recipients. Bank Simpanan Nasional sent mobile branches to reach these forgotten communities with basic financial services. People can make deposits and withdrawals without traveling hundreds of miles to the nearest town. The mobile banking trucks offer account opening services for families who never had formal banking before.
The Basic Rahmah Assistance program lets people buy essential items using their identity cards at registered shops. About 94 percent of Sabah recipients already use this service to purchase household necessities. The program exploded from 700,000 users to 5.4 million people across Malaysia since April. Government officials expanded the list of approved items to include cleaning supplies and raised spending limits from 1,200 ringgit to 2,100 ringgit per year.
Malaysia spent over 410 million ringgit on cash aid for Sabah families during the first two payment rounds. The government allocated a record 13 billion ringgit for both assistance programs this year. Officials promise that prudent money management creates more opportunities to invest in social protection and public services for all Malaysians.
