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The Malaysian government is set to begin disbursing the RM100 SARA aid starting this Monday, 9 February
The programme provides a one-off RM100 credit to all Malaysians aged 18 and above, with a total allocation of RM2.2 billion to help ease the rising cost of living.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the funds are a key component of the broader Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) framework.
Eligible recipients can begin verifying their status today through the official portal
One of the programme's most convenient aspects is that no manual application is required, as the aid will be credited automatically to recipients' MyKad.
Once disbursed, the funds will remain valid for use at participating merchants until 31 December.
The government has significantly expanded its merchant network to ensure the aid is easily accessible, even in remote areas
The number of participating outlets has grown from just 700 in 2024 to over 10,700 nationwide as of early February.
This network currently includes 3,000 small traders, with a goal of increasing participating small grocery shops to 10,000 by the end of the year.
The expansion aims to cut the average travel distance for rural recipients from 10km to just 7km.
The Ministry of Finance is also considering a proposal to expand eligible purchases to include wet food items such as meat and vegetables
While still under study to ensure food safety and quality standards, the potential addition would further enhance the programme's utility.
