Woman claims she was mocked for buying water with SARA aid, sparking debate online over dignity and respect
THE government’s MyKasih Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA) has been easing the financial burden of many Malaysians, and how recipients choose to spend the assistance should be entirely up to them.
However, a recent incident shared online has sparked debate about dignity and respect towards aid recipients.
Nadia Abdullah took to Threads to claim that she was “judged” by a cashier after purchasing a bottle of mineral water using her SARA aid at a well-known convenience store in Kajang.
According to Nadia, the cashier asked, “Just mineral water only?” while scanning the item.
After Nadia confirmed her purchase, the cashier allegedly remarked to a colleague, “To buy water also using MyKasih,” before laughing.
Nadia revealed that she still had RM67.15 remaining from her RM100 allocation, prompting many netizens to question why anyone should be criticised for how they choose to use their entitlement.
“It is her MyKasih, so it’s up to her what she wants to buy, even if it’s just a bottle of mineral water. It’s her right. Who are you to judge and laugh at her?” wrote one user, Mazuin Matsushita.
Others commented that while the issue was not about looking down on cashiers, such an attitude could hinder personal and career growth.
Another user, Liyana, shared that she once spent RM40 of her aid on mineral water bought in bulk, adding that there was nothing wrong with doing so.
Suraya said that if she were in the cashier’s position, she would instead feel happy for the customer, assuming that the person had sufficient essentials and only needed drinking water.
“As a cashier, I honestly don’t care how you pay as long as you pay. Even if you buy 80 cent worth of salt using your IC, I’m fine with it. It’s nasty to laugh,” said Natra Wahida.
A user who also claimed to be a cashier explained that she would normally inform customers if they still had a balance remaining and ask whether they wished to add anything else without belittling them.
