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RM100 is for Rice, Not Resale
By Mihar Dias September 2025
The Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme was never meant to be a trading floor. It was designed to soften the blow of rising costs by putting food on tables, not cash in pockets.
Yet, reports now reveal that some recipients are treating their RM100 MyKasih credit like a side hustle—buying groceries, then reselling them for cash.
At first glance, some may sympathise: a few ringgit in hand might fuel a motorcycle, keep a phone line alive, or pay off a debt.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—this is a bad practice. It undermines the very spirit of the programme, insults taxpayers who fund it, and cheats families who genuinely depend on the subsidy for survival.
Rice, cooking oil, eggs, and flour were meant to fill stomachs, not to circulate in a grey market where aid morphs into quick cash.
The Kedah Consumer Association (CAKE) rightly pointed out that many culprits are single individuals without dependents. https://worldofbuzz.com/msians-are-reportedly-reselling-sara-groceries-for-quick-cash-says-consumer-group/
But dependency status does not excuse dishonesty. Selling off subsidised goods is not creative “budgeting”—it’s a distortion of trust. And in the end, it’s society that foots the bill when government aid becomes an unintended cash machine.
What’s worse, such actions fuel cynicism. They give ammunition to those who argue that welfare breeds complacency, that aid recipients are irresponsible, that subsidies are a waste.
In short, the careless few stain the reputation of the many who use MyKasih as intended: to stretch limited resources with dignity.
Yes, system disruptions at supermarkets add to frustration, forcing people to make multiple trips. But technological hiccups do not justify abuse.
The difference between hardship and opportunism is clear—one demands patience, the other exploits generosity.
Conclusion: Aid is not an entitlement to bend at will. When essential goods meant for needy households are turned into commodities for resale, the social contract breaks down. If you want cash, earn it. If you’re given food, eat it. Don’t betray the hand that feeds you—or one day, there may be no hand left to help at all.
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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