The Finance Ministry’s latest announcement that an additional 10,000 small retailers will be included under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme by the end of 2026 is a positive and timely step towards supporting local communities, easing the cost of living, and strengthening small business sustainability and employment opportunities.
Expanding participation to local sundry shops and provision stores within neighbourhoods would greatly benefit small “mom and pop” businesses that do not possess the financial strength or economies of scale enjoyed by large commercial retail chains and hypermarkets. At the same time, it would provide greater convenience for consumers, especially senior citizens and those without easy access to transportation, who currently may need to travel long distances to larger participating outlets.
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