SARA aid seen to ease living costs but rollout hampered by some system glitches

THE government’s RM100 one-off cash aid under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme officially began on Sunday, aiming to ease the burden of rising living costs for all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above.

The assistance, credited directly to recipients’ MyKad, is intended for the purchase of essential goods across 14 product categories.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced the initiative on 23 July, positioning it as a National Day gesture of appreciation to the rakyat and part of immediate measures to support household spending.

The initiative is expected to benefit 22 million people nationwide, with a total allocation of RM2 billion.

In Batu Pahat, Johor, recipients expressed gratitude for the support.

Private-sector employee Sapari Shawal said, “Thank you to the Madani Government for the RM100 MySARA aid. It truly eases the burden of family expenses. I’m especially thankful to the Prime Minister.”

Noor Sakinah Hamid, a mother from a lower-income household, echoed the sentiment. “It’s very helpful, even if modest. I can use it to buy essentials like milk and nappies for the children,” she said.

Another recipient, Hanisah Omar, described the aid as timely. “With the cost of living rising, this RM100 helps a lot, especially at month’s end when salaries haven’t come in. It can go towards groceries and basic necessities.”

However, in Temerloh, the first day of implementation was marred by system disruptions, frustrating eager recipients and supermarket staff.

Sinar Harian reported that technical issues began around 10.30am at several outlets, forcing many customers to return items at checkout after failed transactions.

“We’ve put up notices to inform customers of the temporary system outage,” said a staff member at one supermarket.

Despite her initial excitement, housewife Nor Zulfa Abdul Rahman, 42, said she understood the technical hiccup. “It’s my first time receiving this benefit. Though it’s disappointing, I understand that the system is likely overloaded,” she said.

Hizami Zakaria, 33, chose to avoid the initial rush. “I’ll probably use it after the 6th or 7th of the month, when it’s less crowded,” he said.

The SARA aid is expected to be widely utilised throughout the coming weeks as systems stabilise and awareness spreads across retail outlets. - August 31, 2025