THE use of the national identification card, MyKad, in the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) subsidy programme is the most effective mechanism to prevent misuse and leakage in the purchase of essential goods, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Speaking during a community engagement session in Kampung Cocos on Saturday, Fahmi said transaction volumes under the RM100 SARA scheme had shown steady growth, indicating system stability and public confidence.
“Today, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that the system is stable, with the number of processed transactions increasing daily,” he said. “This is a positive indicator that MyKad use, especially in the SARA programme, is the best way to ensure there is no misappropriation or leakage in the purchase of basic goods.”
He was accompanied by the ministry’s Secretary-General, Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and Information Department Director-General, Julina Johan.
Addressing other matters, Fahmi also commented on the ongoing inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, which is currently underway at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court.
He urged the public to allow legal proceedings to run their course and cautioned against making potentially prejudicial remarks online.
“According to the Attorney General’s Chambers, any statement that insults, misleads or seeks to interfere with court proceedings may be considered sub judice,” he said. “If the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) receives complaints—whether from lawyers or the public—platforms may be asked to remove such content.”
Zara Qairina was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 17 July after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar. Her body was exhumed on 8 August for further post-mortem examination following directives from the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Separately, Fahmi also announced that Malaysia and Indonesia will convene a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks to discuss cross-border telecommunications issues, particularly affecting Pulau Sebatik in Tawau.
“We’ve received complaints from residents about signal overspill from Indonesia and spectrum interference. The MCMC will study the matter thoroughly,” he said. “Preliminary measures, including the installation of repeaters, will be implemented this month, but those are only short-term solutions.”
Fahmi added that Malaysia’s broader digital coverage in Sabah is on track to improve further under the National Digital Network (JENDELA) initiative.
“Internet coverage in populated areas of Sabah has already reached 95.3 per cent. With many towers scheduled for completion by year-end, we expect national coverage to average 98.6 per cent,” he said.
“To reach full coverage, we won’t solely rely on conventional towers, which are costly and often delayed by land issues. I have instructed Phase Two of JENDELA to incorporate a mix of suitable technologies depending on the locality.” - Sept 6, 2025
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