By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 14: The federal government will begin distributing the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), including to Sarawak and Sabah, starting Jan 15, through MyKad on a monthly basis.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance explained that the Rahmah cash aid of RM100 per month will be credited to recipients’ MyKad from January to March, with the amount to be increased to RM200 per month from April 2025.
The SARA cash aid has been increased with poor and hardcore poor households registered in the eKasih database set to receive RM2,100 in 2025, compared to RM1,200 in 2024.
In the first quater of 2025, approximately 700,000 recipients will benefit from this initiative, as part of the expanded 2025 Madani Budget allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA, which has reached a record RM13 billion, up from RM10 billion in 2024.
Elderly individuals without partners registered under STR and eKasih will receive RM1,650 in aid. Single individuals under STR and eKasih will receive RM600, households under STR only will receive RM900, and elderly individuals without partners under STR only will receive RM450.
The Ministry highlighted that this standardised distribution method improves upon last year’s system, replacing the previous twice-yearly cash disbursement for SARA recipients in Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that SARA is a targeted assistance programme, where part of the nation’s increased revenue and savings from subsidy reductions are redistributed to support those in genuine need.
“The MyKad-based SARA disbursement ensures that the poor benefit directly from essential goods, including basic food items.
“Upholding the principles of equity and human values within the Madni Economy framework, the government financial restructuring ensures that its outcomes benefit the majority. The Madani government is committed to leveraging advanced digital technology to deliver aid in a straightforward and user-friendly manner to the public,” he said in a media release today.
Additionally, 5.4 million STR recipients will receive additional SARA aid starting April 2025. This includes 700,000 existing SARA recipients and 4.7 million existing STR recipients not listed in eKasih. Households will receive an additional RM100 monthly, while elderly individuals without spouses will receive an extra RM50 monthly.
Under the SARA programme, beneficiaries can purchase selected essential goods using MyKad at over 1,200 registered retail stores nationwide, an increase from 700 in 2024.
SARA credits can be used to purchase selected essentials, including personal hygiene products, medicines, school supplies, and basic food items.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and SARA eligibility checks are available on the official STR portal at https://bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my, while more details on SARA implementation can be found at https://www.mykasih.com.my starting Jan 15, 2025.
The Ministry advises SARA recipients to remain vigilant against fraudulent links and irresponsible parties when seeking information about the programme.
