SANDAKAN: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) will collaborate with the Finance Ministry to identify more premises that can be involved in the implementation of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme.
KPDN Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said this is to enhance access for Sara recipients, enabling them to obtain essential daily goods more easily in their local areas.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});As of Feb 13, 2025, Sara aid recipients can obtain essential items at 1,700 participating supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.
The recipients will receive monthly assistance of between RM50 and RM200, depending on their eligibility category. This amount will be credited to their MyKAD and can be used to purchase basic necessities at selected supermarkets or grocery stores.
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“So far, 340 premises in Sabah and 320 premises in Sarawak are involved in the Sara programme,” he said.
AdvertisementHe said, the focus will be on rural and remote areas, taking into account geographical conditions and infrastructure limitations that make it difficult for targeted groups to purchase essential goods at nearby premises.
He said this during the Sentuhan Kasih, Jualan Rahmah Madani, and Consumer Advocacy Programme at the car park square in Bandar Ramai-Ramai, here, last Sunday.
AdvertisementAlso present were Batu Sapi Member of Parliament, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Karamunting Assemblyman Datuk George Hiew and local residents from Batu Sapi.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the government, through KPDN, will continue to expand the implementation of the Madani Rahmah Sale Programme (PJRM) as part of an intervention measure to offer goods at prices 10 to 30 per cent lower than the current market rates for daily necessities.
For 2025, KPDN is targeting the implementation of at least two PJRM series per month in each state constituency nationwide.
“The government is committed to implementing various strategies and approaches across different ministries and agencies to address the cost of living issues faced by the people, including cash aid through the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sara initiatives.
“In addition to efforts at the federal government level, I also express my appreciation to state governments that have introduced special programmes to assist the people in coping with the cost of living.
“For example, the implementation of the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Sabah (Sukur) programme by the Sabah Government and the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) programme by the Sarawak Government, which involve cash assistance for eligible recipients starting in 2025,” he said.