Kuala lumpur: The government has decided to expand the range of goods under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) for All initiative to include frozen food, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The announcement comes in response to public requests to broaden the list of basic items covered by the programme.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Finance Minister revealed that the decision aims to enhance access to essential goods. Additionally, the government plans to increase the participation of small grocery shops in the SARA programme to 10,000 nationwide by the year's end. The coverage radius for these shops will be reduced to within seven kilometres, down from the current 10 kilometres.

Previously, purchases under SARA were limited to large stores. Now, with the inclusion of 10,000 grocery shops across the country, accessibility has improved. In his address at the National Unity Ministry assembly, Anwar highlighted that under SARA for All, 22 million Malaysians aged 18 and above are receiving RM100 credited to their MyKad today.

The Prime Minister noted that although the aid amount under SARA for All is modest, it aims to help alleviate living costs and stimulate domestic spending. Unlike previous aid initiatives targeting households, SARA for All provides assistance to individuals, meaning a household with four adult members would receive RM400 in total.

Anwar explained that the ability to implement SARA for All a second time stems from fiscal reforms that have enabled savings, which can now be redistributed to benefit all Malaysians. He emphasized the importance of a strong economy, political stability, and skill development for the youth to ensure the continued success and expansion of such initiatives.

The RM100 assistance is a one-off aid valid from today until December 31, 2026.