KUALA LUMPUR: The Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiative will be expanded to benefit 5.4 million recipients starting April 1, a significant increase from the current 700,000 beneficiaries.
The Finance Ministry said eligible recipients will receive up to RM2,100 in aid – a 75% increase from the RM1,200 provided in 2024, it said in a statement yesterday.
The statement said the distribution of Sara via MyKad is targeted to ensure the intended recipients benefit from it in the form of essential goods, Bernama reported.
The expansion, it said, is part of the increased allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sara programmes, amounting to RM13bil this year – the highest in the nation’s history for cash aid distribution.
Meanwhile, 4.7 million STR recipients who are not listed under the eKasih database will receive new Sara assistance starting April 1, with RM50 monthly for elderly singles and RM100 monthly for households.
For more information on Sara, visit the official STR portal at https://bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my and the MyKasih portal at https://www.mykasih.com.my.
