KUALA LUMPUR: Spending under Malaysia’s Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance scheme reached RM4.8bil in the domestic market in 2025, with 99% of recipients using the cashless aid via their national identity cards, says Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
The Finance Minister II said of the RM5bil allocated for monthly Sara assistance under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme, nearly 5.6 million recipients used their MyKad to purchase essential goods at registered premises.
“Sara is a cashless aid programme credited directly to recipients’ identity cards and can be used at registered partner outlets to buy items across 14 categories of basic necessities.
“This approach allows the government to monitor the implementation of the programme effectively and ensure that targeted groups truly benefit from the assistance for its intended purposes,” he told parliament during a question-and-answer session on Thursday (Feb 5).
Amir Hamzah said the year-on-year increase in allocations for STR and Sara reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s social safety net.
“The assistance, particularly Sara, serves as a targeted support mechanism to help the people cope with rising living costs,” he said.
