THE Ministry of Finance (MoF) has strongly denied allegations of data misuse and rejected claims that RM2.2 billion was transferred to the MyKasih Foundation for managing aid under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives.
In reply to a query raised by The Vibes.com, the ministry made clear that the Government remains the sole custodian of all personal data linked to recipients of the SARA and Penghargaan SARA schemes.
“The Government of Malaysia, through the Ministry of Finance, is the sole custodian of all personal data related to SARA and Penghargaan SARA recipients. This data is securely held and managed by the Government,” a MoF spokesperson told The Vibes.com.
MoF also rejected the suggestion that public funds were channelled to the MyKasih Foundation or any private entities for the implementation of the programmes.
“The Ministry also denies that it has paid RM2.2 billion to MyKasih Foundation and other parties for the implementation of these programmes,” the spokesperson added.
The RM2 billion allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 23 July 2025 is meant to provide one-off RM100 assistance to approximately 22 million eligible Malaysian adults.
The credit, tied to recipients' MyKad, is valid until 31 December 2025. Any unused funds will be returned to the Government for redistribution to other vulnerable groups.
MoF clarified that MyKasih Foundation does not possess or control the beneficiary database. Rather, it is granted limited access to operational information such as names and contact numbers, solely for the purposes of transaction verification and resolving discrepancies.
“MyKasih Foundation does not own, collect, or harvest beneficiary data, and has no rights over it. It operates under strict compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, which prohibits the use of personal data beyond its intended purpose,” the spokesperson stressed.
MyKasih serves as a platform provider for aid distribution through its proprietary IC-linked digital system, which allows recipients to redeem support via their MyKad at participating retail outlets.
A built-in firewall separates government-held beneficiary data from transaction records handled by merchants.
The Foundation has worked with the Government in various welfare programmes since 2009 and has supported the rollout of the SARA programme since early 2023.
The system includes safeguards such as merchant onboarding protocols, real-time analytics, and purchase restrictions to ensure that only essential goods may be acquired using the credited aid.
The Ministry of Finance concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and data protection in the management of all government welfare programmes. - Sept 4, 2025
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