KUALA LUMPUR: The Bantuan Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) amounting to RM100, a one-off distribution, began on Sunday (Aug 31) to all adult citizens aged 18 and above, in conjunction with the celebration of National Day 2025.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that the cash assistance was channelled directly through MyKad and could be used to purchase necessities based on 14 selected product categories.
It can be spent at over 4,100 premises nationwide, including supermarkets such as Mydin, Lotus's, Econsave, 99 Speedmart, as well as retail stores in all districts.
"This is an immediate effort to ease the burden of living and as a tribute to the people," said Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, reported Awani.
He informed that this assistance benefits 22 million residents with a total allocation of RM2bil.
The total allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA program was also increased from RM13bil to RM15bil for this year, making it the first time in history that cash assistance was distributed to all adults without exception.
Although the overall inflation rate in June 2025 was at its lowest level in 52 months, at 1.1%, Anwar insisted that the increase in food and beverage prices was still above average inflation and needed to be addressed wisely and immediately.
