KUCHING – Civil servants in Sarawak have demonstrated a notable spirit of solidarity by voluntarily donating their government cash assistance to less fortunate families. The initiative, known as SARA Cares, underscores a community-driven effort to address hardship.
The programme is built on civil servants choosing to return the RM100 from the Basic Rahmah Contribution (SARA) they received.
This act of giving back enables the aid to be channelled to asnaf and other vulnerable groups. A ceremony to mark this effort was held at Mydin Hypermarket Vista Tunku in Petra Jaya.
The event was officiated by the Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, who also serves as the Yang di-Pertua of MAKSAK Sarawak.
He was accompanied by his wife, Datin Amar Baduyah Bujang. The initiative mirrors a national buy-and-donate campaign where recipients can use their SARA credit to purchase essential goods boxes for charity.
SARA Cares delivers a powerful message that public well-being is a shared responsibility. It highlights how empathy and unity within the community can amplify the impact of government aid programmes. Although the individual monetary value may be modest, the collective gesture carries significant meaning.
Also present at the event were Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Datu Buckland Bangik, Norhayati Mornie, and other members of MAKSAK Sarawak. The SARA programme provides targeted cash assistance to Malaysians for purchasing essential goods.