The handout, totaling over RM2 billion in government spending, is scheduled to hit bank accounts on February 9—just in time for the upcoming Chinese New Year and Ramadan seasons. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the aid is intended to provide immediate relief to households struggling with food inflation.

The funds for this initiative partly come from RM150 million in unclaimed aid from the previous year, which has been rechanneled to help vulnerable groups, including victims of domestic violence and students with special needs.

While the RM100 is a welcome gesture for many, some economists argue that such one-off payments are "band-aid" solutions. They suggest that the government should focus more on long-term structural reforms, such as wage growth and market competition, to truly address the cost-of-living crisis.