GEORGE TOWN: Senior citizens struggling with living costs see comforting prospect in the increased welfare benefit announced in Budget 2025.

Lim Lay Hoon, 71, a resident of an old people’s home on Carnarvon Street last year, expressed relief at the additional RM100 benefit for the elderly.

“This increase will help ease my burden. “I have monthly expenses for medicine and other needs,” he said.

Lim chose to stay at home to avoid the extra financial expenses of her son, who moved to Kedah for work.

While he appreciated the government’s timely support, he hoped for more services to be provided to nursing homes.

“Maybe the government can help the elderly with monthly cash assistance to their homes so that they can take better care of our welfare,” Lim said.

During the tabling of the 2025 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the allocation of RM13 billion for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, the largest cash aid package.

This includes increasing social assistance for senior citizens from RM500 to RM600 per month, and RM1 billion earmarked for cash assistance and allowances for senior citizens’ institutions and activity centres.

Another resident, who asked to be identified only as Chan, was grateful for the extra support.

The 75-year-old former worker, who has been living in the same house for three years after his heart attack, said, “With the extra money, I can buy gifts for my grandchildren who come to visit me every month.”

But not all residents experience the same relief.

Ooi Ah Choon, 71, a former security guard who has been living at the home since 2021, reported that he had difficulty receiving cash assistance from the provincial Welfare Department for the past two years.

“I have only one son who earns a meager income from sales, and I believe I should be eligible for support since I belong to the B40 group,” Ooi said, expressing his intention to reapply.

The trio are among the residents of Thean Oon Home for the Aged, which currently houses 92 residents aged between 42 and 92.

The home’s manager, Koay Chee Kean, 53, said the increased funding would increase access to healthcare and expand welfare programs for the elderly.

“This will also create stronger social support networks and ensure that senior citizens receive the care and services they need,” he said, calling on government agencies to distribute funds fairly.

“With this initiative, the government’s goal of creating a more inclusive society that values ​​and supports the aging population will become a reality,” Koay added.

Mohd Nassir Sulaiman, in-charge of Darul Hanan Care Center in Kepala Batas, said the Budget announcement was timely for many institutions.

“It will help a lot of us, especially the maintenance of the facilities,” he said, adding that it is important for these institutions to be financially healthy so that the quality of care provided to residents can be improved.

Currently, 102 people aged between 60 and 95 live in the house in Darul Hanan.