In a statement, the ministry said those eligible would receive up to RM2,100 each for the entire year, compared with RM1,200 last year, marking a 75% increase.

“This aid will be credited monthly to recipients’ MyKad,” said the ministry.

The ministry said the initiative’s widened reach was part of the allocation increase for the Sara and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programmes to RM13 billion this year.

It said the 5.4 million recipients included 700,000 existing Sara recipients in the eKasih national poverty database who had received Sara aid since January, and 4.7 million STR recipients not in the database.

“Starting this year, the channelling of Sara aid via MyKad will be implemented in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan as well, compared with only the peninsula states in 2024.

“This is an improvement from last year when cash aid was channelled twice a year to Sara recipients in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,” said the ministry.

The ministry said the initiative’s beneficiaries could use the credit in their MyKad to purchase essential items at registered stores, which now number over 3,500 nationwide compared with 700 last year.

The items include personal hygiene items, medicine and schooling accessories, as well as basic food items.