MORE than 25,000 islanders entitled to Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) support can now obtain basic necessities on their doorstep, eliminating the requirement to undertake sea crossings for basic provisions.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan confirmed that Koperasi Anugerah Hj Badli serves as the 33rd accredited SARA merchant across the Semporna district, whilst marking the single operational outlet situated on Pulau Bum Bum in Sabah.
"Previously, residents of Pulau Bum Bum who wanted to purchase goods using SARA had to take a boat to mainland Semporna and then return to the island with their essential items. We heard about the difficulties faced by the community here, which is why SARA facilities have been brought closer to them through a partner outlet on Pulau Bum Bum itself," Bernama quoted him saying.
Amir explained that authorities are actively mapping remote territories experiencing logistics hurdles to ensure aid reach is maximised.
"We do not want distance, the sea or location to become a barrier for people to enjoy the assistance provided by the Government. This is the Government's approach, which is not merely about providing assistance but ensuring that it actually reaches the people, can be used and benefits their lives," he said.
He added that plans are underway to rollout similar retail access to further populated islands throughout Sabah.
"With the cooperation of the MyKasih Foundation, anyone who wishes to register as a SARA partner can submit a request to be included in the SARA system. However, we also need to ensure that they are eligible and comply with the approach we have under SARA, including the provision of barcodes," he added.
Amir noted that his presence on the island formed part of routine field checks evaluating scheme performance across the nation.
"It is important for me to visit places that are not usually visited as much, to ensure that the use of SARA is widespread, including in Sabah," he added. - August 15, 2026
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