A further RM253 million under Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) is scheduled for disbursement in November, following RM427 million that had benefited more than 823,000 recipients as of September. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas gave the update in his Oct 21 winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. He said RM680 million had been approved for the scheme, which helps eligible households purchase essential goods. The RM253 million is the remaining balance of that approved programme funding. Together with the RM427 million already reported, it accounts for the RM680 million total; it is not an additional RM253 million on top of that ceiling. For recipients, November is the announced disbursement month, not confirmation that every account has already been credited. This update does not specify an individual payment date or a new per-recipient amount. The September recipient figure is also a measure of assistance already delivered, not a newly announced intake.

October’s monthly SARA assistance began being credited to eligible recipients’ MyKad accounts on Oct 1. The amount depends on the recipient’s category. Under Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), households receive RM100 a month, while eligible senior citizens and single adults receive RM50 each. Those qualifying under both STR and eKasih receive higher monthly credits: RM200 for households, RM150 for senior citizens and RM100 for single adults. A RM200 household credit is therefore not the standard amount for every recipient. For eligible Kuching and Sarawak shoppers, SARA is cashless spending support for approved necessities at participating shops, rather than cash to withdraw. The aid covers 15 categories, including rice, eggs, cooking oil, frozen food and school supplies, at more than 14,700 selected supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide. Eligibility can be checked through the official SARA portal’s status-check function. This monthly credit is separate from the RM100 one-off SARA Untuk Semua payment made in February.

The BUDI Diesel subsidy transfer facility has been widened with immediate effect, allowing a registered vehicle owner to transfer eligibility to any eligible Malaysian citizen who is the vehicle’s designated actual user. The change matters to private diesel pickup and four-wheel-drive owners in Sarawak who use family vehicles or vehicles bought through informal “sambung bayar” arrangements. Transfer of subsidy eligibility does not transfer ownership of the vehicle. A registered owner with more than one eligible diesel vehicle may transfer the monthly entitlement for those vehicles to a maximum of three actual users, subject to the scheme’s conditions and the number of eligible vehicles. Applications are made through the BUDI MADANI portal or at an Inland Revenue Board office. The deadline matters: applications submitted by the 27th of a month can be processed for use from the first day of the following month, subject to data checks. A transfer is generally allowed only once for each vehicle, and a recipient may receive a transfer from only one registered owner.

[image: 1781071314796-cement-price.jpg] Miri and Kuching now lead the nation in cement price increases, with annual hikes of 7.5% and 7.4% respectively — the highest in Malaysia, according to the latest DOSM data. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) released its Special Release for Building and Structural Works for May 2026, showing average cement prices across Malaysia rose from RM23.04 per 50kg bag in May 2024 to RM25.95 in May 2026. But Sarawaks two largest cities saw the biggest jumps. Miri recorded the highest year-on-year increase at 7.5%, with Kuching close behind at 7.4%. Nationwide, the year-on-year range was just 1.0% to 7.5%. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin noted that cement prices also rose month-on-month across all regions, increasing between 0.2% and 2.1% in May alone. Other construction materials are not spared either: Steel prices rose 0.1% to 1.3% month-on-month nationwide, with Sibu and Miri among the higher increases Sand prices increased up to 9.7% in some areas, with Sibu recording a 3.7% jump Aggregate prices climbed 0.3% to 4.7% nationwide The Building Cost Index (BCI) confirmed the broader trend, with Sarawak recording month-on-month increases of 0.1% to 1.1% across all building categories. At the national level, Ordinary Portland cement now averages RM25.95 per 50kg bag, while steel bars sit at RM3,517.50 per metric tonne. For homeowners planning renovations and developers with ongoing projects, these numbers mean real cost pressure ahead. Location: Kuching & Miri, Sarawak Source: DayakDaily / DOSM - https://dayakdaily.com/construction-costs-rise-as-miri-kuching-record-nations-steepest-cement-price-hikes/ What do you think?

Young working adults in Sarawak are scaling back Gawai celebrations this year, choosing meaningful family time over lavish gatherings as living costs continue to rise. With Gawai Dayak just around the corner, many young Sarawakians are rethinking how they celebrate. Interviews with working adults in their 20s reveal a common theme — budgets are tighter, priorities have shifted, but the spirit of togetherness remains strong. Location: Kuching, Sarawak Details: Junior civil engineer Valentine Mapan Jalan, 25, said his family’s celebration will be quieter this year as they prioritise elderly relatives’ well-being. “We don’t need extravagance to show our hospitality,” he said. Executive Irvina Joan, 24, noted rising fuel and daily expenses have limited her travel plans to visit relatives in other areas. She credited government aid like STR, SARA, and SKAS for helping ease some financial pressure. Administrative assistant Lydia Hyginus, 25, said she cut her Gawai budget this year, skipping new family outfits. “Every moment during Gawai feels precious because it is one of the few times when my whole family can gather,” she said. Despite the tighter budgets, all three emphasised that the essence of Gawai — family reunions, shared meals, and cultural traditions — remains unchanged. Source: The Borneo Post Is your family planning a simpler Gawai this year? Share your thoughts below