Tesla (TSLA) +2% Tesla shares bounced after a rough Monday, despite being down 36% in Q1 — the worst Q1 in company history. Investors are now eyeing its Q1 delivery report due Wednesday, with Street estimates hovering around 380,000 units . Analysts have been revising expectations lower amid backlash over Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s administration. Chinese EV Makers Up XPeng (XPEV) +1.6% : Delivered 33,205 vehicles in March — its fifth straight 30k+ month. NIO (NIO) +1.6% and Li Auto (LI) +1.4% also gained on strong March deliveries. Nvidia (NVDA) -0.6% Still under pressure after a 19.3% Q1 drop , its worst since 2022. Investor worries over AI spending, tech valuation, and trade tensions are weighing heavily. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) -5% Fell after a Texas judge dismissed J&J’s third bankruptcy attempt to settle talc-related lawsuits via Chapter 11. PVH Corp (PVH) +18.9% Shares surged after Q4 earnings beat expectations ...
Government Expands Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) Initiative to Support 5.4 Million Recipients from April
The Malaysian government has announced the expansion of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiative, set to begin on April 1, 2025. The scheme, which targets assistance for low-income individuals and households, will now benefit 5.4 million recipients, a substantial increase from the previous 700,000 beneficiaries.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Finance revealed that eligible recipients will receive up to RM2,100 in aid, marking a 75% increase from the RM1,200 aid given in 2024. This increase is part of a larger effort to redistribute a portion of Malaysia’s higher revenue and subsidy savings to those in need.
Key Highlights of the Sara Initiative:
Targeted Assistance: The Sara initiative is designed to provide financial aid to the country's most vulnerable populations. Recipients will receive the aid through their MyKad, which can be used to purchase essential goods.
Increased Coverage: The scheme will now cover 5.4 million recipients, up from 700,000 last year, and is being expanded to include regions in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, where previously only Peninsular Malaysia residents benefited.
Increased Aid: Each eligible recipient can expect up to RM2,100 in assistance, a significant boost from last year’s aid amount. This marks the highest cash aid distribution in the country’s history, with a total allocation of RM13 billion this year for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sara programs.
Improved Accessibility: The number of participating retail stores where Sara aid can be used has increased from 700 to over 3,500 nationwide. These stores will offer essential goods, such as food, personal hygiene products, medicines, and school supplies.
Monthly Assistance for Elderly and Households: From April 1, 4.7 million STR recipients, who are not listed under the eKasih database, will also benefit from the Sara assistance — RM50 monthly for elderly singles and RM100 monthly for households.
This expansion is aimed at improving the purchasing power of low-income households across Malaysia, helping them access essential products as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to support economic recovery and social welfare.
Comments
Post a Comment