By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 26: The Madani government has announced the expansion of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme to 5.4 million recipients starting April 1, marking an almost eightfold increase from the current 700,000 beneficiaries.
In a TVS news report, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that eligible recipients will now receive up to RM2,100 in assistance—a 75 per cent increase from RM1,200 in 2024.
“SARA is a targeted aid initiative, redistributing part of the government’s additional revenue and subsidy savings to assist those most in need.
“By channelling SARA through MyKad, we ensure that recipients directly benefit in the form of essential goods,” said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a statement.
This expansion is part of an increased allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA programmes, which now total RM13 billion—the highest direct cash aid distribution in Malaysia’s history.
Additionally, 4.7 million STR recipients not listed under eKasih will receive new SARA assistance, with RM50 per month for elderly individuals without spouses and RM100 per month for households, starting April 1.
From this year onward, SARA disbursement via MyKad will be extended to Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan, after previously being limited to Peninsular Malaysia in 2024.
“This standardised implementation improves upon last year’s method, which provided cash aid twice a year for SARA recipients in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan,” the statement added.
Under the SARA programme, recipients can use MyKad to purchase essential goods at over 3,500 registered retail stores nationwide—a significant increase from 700 stores in 2024.
Besides staple foods, SARA credits can also be used to buy personal hygiene products, medicines, and school supplies.
Further information on the implementation of SARA can be accessed through the official STR portal at https://bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my and the MyKasih portal at https://www.mykasih.com.my. — DayakDaily
