Today, Malaysia’s government has confirmed that a one-off payment of RM100 will be disbursed to all eligible Malaysians aged 18 and above under the SARA For All programme. The aid will be credited directly into recipients’ MyKad starting Monday, 9 February 2026.
Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, announced the move during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, explaining that RM2.2 billion has been allocated for the initiative. Eligible Malaysians do not need to apply, as the amount will be automatically credited to each qualifying MyKad and will remain valid for use until 31 December 2026.
Programme Aims to Ease Cost-of-Living Pressures
The SARA For All programme forms part of the broader Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) initiative, aimed at helping citizens manage rising living costs through targeted, cashless aid. Minister Amir Hamzah noted that eligibility checks can already be done online via the sara.gov.my portal, allowing recipients to confirm their inclusion ahead of disbursement.
Merchants Network Expanded Nationwide
Officials also highlighted significant growth in the programme’s merchant partner network. As of early February, there were about 10700 participating outlets nationwide, a substantial jump from around 700 in 2024. Of these, roughly 3000 are small traders.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously emphasised plans to expand the SARA network further, with a target to increase the number of small grocery shops participating to 10000. This expansion is expected to reduce the distance recipients need to travel for purchases, shortening it from approximately 10 km to about 7 km.
Future Enhancements Under Consideration
In response to concerns about food affordability and quality, the government is also reviewing a proposal to include wet food as a product category under the SARA programme. Amir Hamzah said this option is being evaluated to ensure food safety and quality standards before any implementation. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
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