Amir Hamzah: The Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid not only assists eligible recipients in dealing with rising living costs but also contributes to the growth of the local economy, said Finance Minister II Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the targeted aid programme had encouraged many sundry shops and mini-supermarkets to register as designated shopping locations for aid recipients.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the SARA programme began last year with 700,000 recipients. The programme involved identifying where the recipients were located and registering shops, including supermarkets and sundry shops, to facilitate the aid distribution. This year, the programme has expanded, adding 1,700 shops nationwide and extending the system to recipients in Sabah and Sarawak by utilizing identity cards.

Amir Hamzah stated that starting this April, 4.7 million recipients of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) would also receive SARA aid. This expansion will bring the total number of SARA recipients to 5.4 million, up from the current 700,000. He noted that many recipients have expressed their gratitude for the government assistance.

Additionally, Amir Hamzah mentioned that some recipients also benefit from STR aid, providing them with greater financial ease, particularly in preparing for their children’s schooling. As of February 13, more than RM66 million had been spent by SARA recipients at registered shops.