“SARA has transformed our daily lives, particularly in securing basic food supplies,” said Amoi Asud, 36, of the Temiar tribe from Kampung Jader, Pos Simpor in Gua Musang.
With just the MyKad verification, she said, her husband can travel to town to stock up on rice and dry food such as noodles and vermicelli for the family, saving time and effort.
“This has helped us to ensure that we always have food and no longer have to depend on cassava when rice runs out,” she said.
Suria Kamarul, 24, a Mendriq housewife from Kampung Kuala Lah in Gua Musang, said her MyKad now acts like a “multi-purpose card”, enabling her to purchase basic items at registered grocery stores, even those nearly 10km from her home.
“We make the most of this RM100 monthly aid to buy groceries and daily necessities,” said Suria, who plants lemongrass with her husband.
Her husband, Harun Abus, 24, a rubber tapper from the same district, said the MyKad system is more practical than cash aid as it has helped control spending, and is also more convenient as the number of registered shops is growing.
“SARA has had a big impact on our community, most of whom have no steady income. With more village shops registered under SARA, it’s easier for those of us living far from town,” he said.
Zariana Awang Mat, a 34-year-old single mother of five, said the assistance she has received since January has enabled her to purchase her children’s needs without having to prepare cash in advance.
SARA is a targeted cash aid initiative now expanded to 5.4 million recipients, comprising 700,000 existing e-Kasih beneficiaries and 4.7 million Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients.
Under Budget 2025, the allocation for STR and SARA was increased to RM13 billion from RM10 billion previously, while the annual SARA rate was raised to RM2,100 from RM1,200 last year.
The move is in line with the Madani economic framework, which focuses on empowering low-income groups through equitable opportunities, better living standards and comprehensive social protection.
In conjunction with the National Day celebration, the government has also announced a one-off RM100 cash aid for all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above under the SARA programme.
The initiative is expected to benefit 22 million people, involving an additional RM2 billion, bringing the total allocation for STR and SARA this year to RM15 billion, the highest in the nation’s cash aid history.
As of July 29, some 4,500 registered retail outlets nationwide have joined the SARA programme, offering more than 90,000 essential daily goods in 14 categories, including rice, eggs, medicines, cleaning supplies, school necessities and personal hygiene items.