Kuah: At 71 years old, Serian Said still travels across the narrow strait every month to buy necessities. Today, this elderly woman from Pulau Tuba still perseveres by taking a 15-minute ferry ride to Kuah Town to buy daily necessities with the assistance of Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) that she receives.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, there are no shops registered for SARA credit in Pulau Tuba yet, so Serian has to take a boat to Kuah Town. Despite the tiring trip, she expressed happiness in being able to purchase necessities with the assistance. At a local supermarket, Serian, who has no regular source of income, mentioned that the aid had significantly eased her burden. She receives RM100 a month and manages her expenses wisely by saving a bit each month in preparation for Ramadan. She noted that she only buys light items, avoiding heavier items like rice due to the challenge of carrying them back on the boat.

During her visit to the supermarket, Serian had the chance to meet Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and expressed her hope for more shops on Pulau Tuba to register for SARA credit to facilitate easier access to necessities for local residents.

For another SARA recipient, Che Wa Saleh, 66, from Kedawang, the assistance provides instant relief by allowing purchases without cash or QR code reliance. Che Wa also benefits from the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), another government initiative aiding her daily needs.

M. Rajesh, 38, a private sector worker and first-time SARA recipient this year, acknowledged the relief provided by SARA amid rising living costs, even for single individuals like him with modest salaries.

SARA is a monthly targeted assistance credited to MyKad for purchasing necessities at registered retail stores. As of January 2025, Langkawi had 1,720 poor and hardcore poor recipients in the eKasih register. Starting April 2025, with the extension of SARA assistance to STR recipients, the number will rise to 31,000 recipients.

This extension is part of the government’s initiative to expand SARA assistance to 4.7 million STR recipients nationwide, increasing total SARA recipients to 5.4 million from the current 700,000. This expansion reflects an increase in the 2025 Budget allocation for Sumbang Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA to RM13 billion, the highest level in history, compared to RM10 billion last year.