December 31 2025. The final day for the year. New Year’s Eve.
It is also the expiry date for the MyKasih program, a government scheme providing all Malaysian citizens aged 18 or above with RM100 digitally through each person’s identification card. However, the scheme isn’t universally accepted at all stores.
Paternalism and practicality and possibly something else have restricted spending avenues to a subset of consumer products—certain basic food items, baby requirements such as diapers and hygiene products like tooth pastes—at selected stores. Although MyKasih is free money for all voting-age Malaysians, somebody in Putrajaya must have thought it was morally inappropriate to have the money spent at the more upscaled Cold Storage, Jaya Grocer or Aeon MaxValu chains. It should be spent at places like KKMart or Hero Market instead, or so the logic goes, where the marhaen, the common people, patronize.
But no matter the misguided targeting policy. There is RM100 free money to be spent. However restricted the options are, there are still rich options available and there are choice purchases to be made before the government-funded cash-like voucher expires at midnight.
Recently with a baby, diapers are at the top of my mind and although I live rather comfortably, I won’t mind free RM100-worth of diapers. The economist in me optimizes. I reckon this supply of diapers would last me several weeks, or days depending on how often the baby poos.
I head to the nearest government-approved outlet for my free diapers. Currently finding myself in Petaling Jaya, it turns out the KKMart on Jalan Telawi in Bangsar is the most convenient convenience store for me. And so I turn up on Jalan Telawi, readying my IC to redeem my RM100-worth of diapers, possibly much at the chagrin of some policymakers in Putrajaya.
“Bangsar, of all places! Bangsar!” I’d imagine the man behind the desk shouts. “Next year, we’ll remove Bangsar from the pre-approved list!”, barks the man to his special officer who nods and says “yes sir, we’ll do that. No Bangsar in the list.”
It turns out, I’m not the only one thinking about spending it on the very last day. There’s line forming at the cashier’s counter. But it isn’t too bad. Five, maybe six people lining up.
I walk and begin my search for diapers at the back of the store. “A ah! There they are.” No, those are toilet rolls. No, I don’t need that. No, those are napkins. No, those are some kind of paper products. No, no, no…
It isn’t a big store and I find the right shelves soon after. But I realize I have no idea which diaper brand to buy. I flip out the phone, call the wife who immediately gives a sighing instruction. “Do you see it?”
“Yes, I do.” No I don’t. “Okay, see ya. Bye bye.” I’m currently reading RF Kuang’s Babel and I’m reminded by the novel that the etymology of goodbye if God be with you. May God be with me.
As I begin to pray deep in my heart, my eyes land on the right brand. I guess I didn’t need to pray after all.
A bag of those diapers cost RM12.50 each. My mind quickly calculates the math and understands immediately getting 8 bags would fully utilize my RM100. But 8 bulking bags are a pain to carry. I have a shopping bag with me but it isn’t big enough for 8. I have to carry these bags to the counter awkwardly and then to the car parked nearby.
By now, the line at the counter has grown longer.
On my messaging app, a friend at another place complains that the MyKasih system is struggling to handle the sale volume for today. “The system is down! This government I tell you!”
I count there are seven persons in front of me. The customer at the counter hoping to maximize his MyKasih allowance struggles to do the math and the cashier is obliging by too much. “This item cannot. That can.”
“How about that?”
“Can.”
“That?”
“Cannot.”
This to-and-fro conversation goes on for 10 minutes. It is as frustrating as lining up at a fast food restaurant and having the person in front of you being indecisive about his meal. “Big Mac?”
“No, this is KFC.”
It’s the next person’s turn but she is underspending it. “Wait, ah. I look for more stuff.” She leaves her stuff on the counter and goes to the back of the store. Several minutes later, she comes up only to bring an item that is priced above the residual value she has.
“It’s over the limit. You’ll have to pay cash for it.”
“Let me look for something else. Wait please. I’ll change.”
Another minute or two later, she finds it. “Thank you. I really appreciate the patience.”
Next!
This customer has the same problem. The cashier says, “if you don’t spend it, the government will donate it to charity.”
He replies, “oh it’s okay,” possibly feeling the intense stares from everybody else in the line. The line grows longer and it has been half an hour since I joined it.
A man with a helmet enters the KKMart. “Bang, MyKasih boleh guna sini?” Bro, could I use MyKasih here?
“Boleh, boleh. Join the line,” he smirks, knowing full well the implicit cost of MyKasih. The RM100 may be free, but so too standing up for half an hour or longer, opportunity cost be damned.
It’s been 45 minutes and the line is barely moving. A couple comes in. They assess the situation and decide it’s not worth the effort. “Jom kita pergi Speedmart sebelah.”
I look behind and I cannot see the end of the line. It has snaked all the way to the back. Give it time and the line will become an Ouroboros, with its end meeting the head at the counter.
I can’t feel my legs. This is no way to spend New Year’s Eve. I can hear a thunder or two. It’s starting to rain heavily outside. Maybe I should say the prayer after all.
“It’s only RM84.35. Do you need to get anything else?” This consumer runs deeper into the store.
Next!
“RM96.55. Anything else?” Off he goes.
Next!
My back hurts.
Finally, just above the hour mark, it is my turn.
One bag of diapers. RM12.50 appears on the screen.
Two bags. RM25.00.
Three bags. RM37.50.
Four bags. RM50.00.
Six bags. RM75.00.
Eight bags. RM100.00.
The cashier smiles and gives me an ovation. I hear laughter from behind, enjoying their comedy of math, paternalism and government targeting policy.
The rain stops.
