Kuala lumpur: The nearly 100 per cent uptake of Bantuan Asas Rahmah (SARA) in several states underscores its role in supporting recipients' daily needs. SARA recipients can now choose from a wider range of items, making the aid more flexible and practical.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the expanded list of items under SARA is significantly easing the daily expenses for individuals like retired policeman Mohd Noor Mohd Yusoff, 68, from Taman Chemor Sejahtera. Mohd Noor expressed relief that essentials such as biscuits and canned foods are now included, allowing him to better manage his household expenses, especially medical needs for his wife.
Mohd Noor, who has been a recipient since the program's inception, said he received about RM1,100 in aid this year, inclusive of special top-ups. 'The monthly aid helps me manage expenses better, allowing my pension to cover my wife's medical needs after her stroke,' he shared.
Former engineer Dzahar Yaakub, 67, highlighted the impact of the one-off RM100 Appreciation Aid under SARA, which provides households with multiple recipients increased spending flexibility. 'Although it's RM100 per person, in a household with several recipients, the amount can be combined for groceries and is very helpful. If it's not enough, we top it up,' Dzahar noted.
For private-sector worker Anuar Nazeri, 53, SARA's benefits extend beyond groceries, offering relief for families with children in education. 'The RM200 I received was spent on groceries such as cooking oil, rice and other essentials, while my 19-year-old used the RM100 aid for needs at the polytechnic,' Anuar explained.
On December 18, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan reported that states including Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Pahang, and the Federal Territory of Labuan recorded an average SARA utilisation rate of nearly 100 per cent. By that time, nearly 5.6 million recipients had used their MyKad to purchase essentials, achieving a 99 per cent usage rate, with RM4.59 billion spent.
Additionally, more than 20 million of the 22 million adult one-off SARA recipients, or 92 per cent, have spent over RM1.91 billion, indicating the program's extensive reach and effectiveness.