A Heart Full Of Hope And RM1,000 Assistance To Pursue Your Dreams
When I scrolled on social media and discovered that Budget 2026 was introducing the RM1,000 relocation assistance for fresh graduates moving away from their hometown, I literally sighed and thought, “WALAOWEIIII WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?!”.
To some, it seems like a small amount… But to someone fresh out of the scholarly boat, or someone like me who struggled for years to secure a full-time career after the pandemic, it’s not just RM1,000. It’s that warm, comforting, fast-food meal you earned after passing your school exams with flying colours.
June 2023, four years after graduation. After countless days feeling anxious about my future and staring at my dark, ominous ceiling, asking, “Will I ever make myself proud?”, it finally happened. I was offered a corporate job!
I still remember the next day after I received my offer letter. I suddenly had the willpower to wake up in the morning again. Ate an extra serving of rice for lunch. Imagined what the first day of my job would look like. My face was glowing with excitement when I told Mum and Dad, shared the news with my friends, and uploaded it to my story — “KL, HERE I COME!!!”.
What felt like my pursuit of happiness quickly turned into anxiety pro max when I realised… The future I wanted was more than 1,000km away from my first home.
Moving out of Kuching wasn’t just about packing my clothes, packets of Laksa Sarawak and Kolo Mee into my luggage. It was beyond that; one that came with many hidden costs. And suddenly, all I could panic about was…
“Do I have savings to move out?”
“What clothes to bring?”
“Where do I stay?”
“Should I book my flight earlier, but have to pay rent earlier? Or arrive a day before work to save money?”
“EH HELLO, DO I EVEN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SURVIVE BEFORE MY FIRST GAJI??!!”
Everything felt too real, way too quickly.
“HOW DO PEOPLE DO THIS?”, is a question that still echoes in my mind today. Welcome to adulthood, where every single sen counts, especially for this little suburban boy excited to survive the concrete jungle of KL.
Growing up in a household within the B40 income bracket, I had to plan my monthly budget. With the little to no savings I struggled to keep, I needed to keep track of my expected expenditures to survive there: accommodation, deposit, groceries, transportation, and other basic necessities. The more it adds up, the more it almost made me lose my appetite again. But I told myself, “Duit boleh dicari. You’ll live and you’ll learn. And it’s part of growing up”.
So, after giving myself the pep talk, I booked my one-way ticket, packed my things, and said my goodbyes.
“With great happiness and excitement comes great responsibility… and a little fear”, that’s how I felt after stepping out of the plane in KLIA2. For the first three months, I crashed at a friend’s living room. I learned to commute using public transport, which takes me about 4 hours daily, switching between the LRT, MRT, and bus to get to work and return home.
As days passed, I learned the real value of money, where every small amount matters. I tracked my daily expenses using Google Sheets, swapped my favourite café matchas for homemade versions, prepped my meals every Sunday, and discovered countless meals I can create with an egg.
As exhausting as it was, it taught me about discipline, patience, and living within my means. And I realised, I was no longer the same small, suburban boy living in KL.
That’s why this RM1,000 assistance in Budget 2026 hits home.
Yes, the amount wouldn’t have stopped all my struggles, but it could’ve given me a little peace of mind or the breathing space I need. This incentive isn’t about how much I can get, but about the kind of support that says, “We’ve been there. And we understand how hard it was to start. We see you, little one.”.
If I had this back then, I could’ve used it for my rental deposit and monthly groceries, so I could worry less about my next meal or maybe even save my loved ones from one less bank transfer.
Looking back now, I realised that everyone who moves to a new city has the same mix of excitement, fear, and a small will of hope. You’d do anything to achieve your personal and professional growth.And sometimes, it might take a small kind gesture — just like the PERKESO RM1,000 relocation incentive — to remind you, you’re not alone. It may or may not change your story, but it would’ve helped make the first step into adulthood a little lighter, smoother, and kinder.
Article by Herald Eddy
