Sarawak: Longhouse residents deep in Sarawak’s interior are breathing a sigh of relief as they can now access the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid directly using their MyKad at nearby grocery shops, eliminating the need to travel to town or deal with cumbersome procedures.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this new approach not only saves time and costs but also ensures that the government’s targeted aid reaches those in need directly and without delay. Guang Latip, the tuai rumah (longhouse head) of Kampung Reah Baru Longhouse, highlighted that residents previously had to travel 35 kilometres to Serian town just to withdraw the aid. Now, they can conveniently use their MyKad to purchase food and daily essentials directly from shops.

Guang emphasized the efficiency of the system, particularly given Sarawak’s vast geography and its many remote communities. All 78 families in the longhouse, which was built in 2011, are eligible to receive SARA aid this year.

Aid recipient Minang Dawi, a housewife with three young children, expressed her gratitude for the new method, noting that it has made things much easier for her. She appreciated not having to leave her children behind to claim the aid in town and hopes the government will consider the number of family members when determining aid amounts.

For Madlein Ngaran, the aid has been a significant help as she lives alone in the longhouse. With MyKad verification, she can manage her grocery needs independently without relying on her children.

The SARA programme, a targeted cash initiative, has expanded to 5.4 million recipients, including 700,000 existing eKasih recipients and 4.7 million Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients. Under Budget 2025, allocations for STR and SARA have increased to RM13 billion, with annual SARA aid raised to RM2,100 from RM1,200 last year.

This initiative is part of the MADANI Economy framework, focusing on empowering low-income households through fair opportunities, better living standards, and comprehensive social protection. In conjunction with National Day, the government announced a one-off payment of RM100 to all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above under the SARA programme, benefiting 22 million people and involving an additional RM2 billion, bringing this year’s total allocation for STR and SARA to RM15 billion.

As of July 29, 4,500 registered retail outlets nationwide have joined the SARA programme, offering over 90,000 essential items in 14 categories, including rice, eggs, medicines, hygiene products, school supplies, and personal care items.