Kuching: The government continues to strengthen the implementation of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) program by opening up opportunities for more products from local entrepreneurs to be marketed based on consumer needs and preferences in a given area. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan stated that this approach not only benefits aid recipients but also helps local entrepreneurs and retailers generate income.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah mentioned that in Kuching, there are local products that are popular among the local community. The government aims to ensure such products are available in stores participating in SARA so that entrepreneurs get a return, retailers benefit, and aid recipients enjoy a wider variety of choices. Speaking to reporters after conducting a site visit on the implementation of SARA at a retail shop in Kuching, he said there are more than 1,450 premises in Sarawak that have joined the SARA program.

The government's approach is to provide targeted aid based on the recipients' level of need, with the assistance amount determined by several criteria, including the number of dependents in a household. Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah explained that if an individual is single, the amount of aid received is different. However, when they have children and more dependents, the assistance increases because their needs also grow.