Over 8 million Malaysians benefit from MYSARA programme - Economy Minister

THE Government has reported that more than 8.1 million recipients are currently enrolled in the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme, with nearly 6.7 million having utilised their MyKad to purchase essential goods worth almost RM1 billion, reflecting an overall usage rate of 82 per cent.

In the winding up debate in the Dewan Negara today Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, highlighted that SARA, a non-cash assistance initiative, delivers credit through MyKad to be used at registered MySARA partner merchants for 15 categories of essential items, including personal care, household cleaning products, medicines, and basic foodstuffs.

“This approach enables the Government to monitor programme implementation effectively and ensures targeted recipients truly benefit from the assistance provided,” the Minister said.

The SARA programme is part of the broader Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA initiatives, which have seen an allocation increase from RM10 billion in 2024 to RM15 billion in 2026, reaching over eight million recipients.

For the SARA Untuk Semua component, aimed at all 22 million adult Malaysians, more than 12.1 million have made purchases, representing 54 per cent participation, with total spending approaching RM1 billion.

In a move to expand the programme’s scope, the Government introduced frozen foods as a new category from 9 February 2026, bringing the total categories to 15, while increasing the number of eligible items from 100,000 to 140,000.

Addressing concerns about delays in approving applications for MySARA merchant partnerships, the Ministry emphasised that all applications are processed according to established procedures, with a target of completing approvals within 14 days once documentation is complete.

“It is important to ensure that merchant appointment criteria are met, including valid business registration, a proper premises licence, and the use of Point of Sale (POS) systems,” the Minister explained.

“These measures protect public interests while safeguarding the integrity and transparency of the SARA programme.”

The Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to simplifying the approval process for merchants while continuing to expand and strengthen Malaysia’s social safety net, helping citizens manage rising living costs effectively. - March 3, 2026