SARA Appreciation Aid: High Redemption Rate In Sabah, Labuan

LABUAN, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Over 98 per cent of the 1.2 million eligible recipients in Sabah have redeemed their Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) Appreciation Aid, while 65 per cent of the almost 50,000 eligible in Labuan have also done so, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

He also dismissed claims that senior citizens and rural residents found it difficult to use their MyKad to access the aid, saying the initiative has benefited B40 households, especially those in rural and interior areas.

"This has been proven by the fact that redemption rates in states like Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak are among the highest nationwide,” he told reporters after visiting the SARA participating retailers of Layangan Shopper PLT near here today.

SARA, which is tied to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), specifically channels aid to eligible low-income households for monthly purchases of basics such as food, beverages, hygiene items and medicines.

On the other hand, the SARA Appreciation Aid is a one-off RM100 aid credited into the MyKad of every Malaysian aged 18 and above, which can be redeemed between Aug 31 and Dec 31, to broaden the benefits of SARA to cover the entire adult population.

Amir Hamzah added that the scheme has also benefited micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which have enjoyed stronger sales due to the increased purchasing power of recipients. 

“The number of retail outlets participating in SARA has also grown from 7,300 at the beginning of the year to more than 8,100 nationwide,” he said.

Recipients are allowed to redeem their benefits for a wide range of essential goods, including staple foods (rice, bread, eggs), cooking necessities (cooking oil, flour, seasoning), canned goods and instant noodles, personal hygiene products (soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads), household cleaning supplies (detergent, dishwashing liquid), approved medicines and school supplies like uniforms and stationery. 

“These categories ensure that families not only meet their daily nutritional needs but also access household essentials at affordable prices,” Amir Hamzah said.

-- BERNAMA