Monthly SARA aid disbursement is boosting sales for local retailers, with recipients spending on essentials like rice, cooking oil, and eggs.
KUALA LUMPUR: Following its disbursement to five million recipients last Friday, the monthly Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid is already being utilised.
A Bernama survey in several states found that recipients are either spending it gradually or in a single purchase, generating a positive impact on neighbourhood retailers in the process.
In SELANGOR, Kamsiah Mat Ali, 59, said the monthly RM200 SARA assistance helped her start the new year by planning household purchases in stages ahead of Ramadan, which is expected to begin next month.
“This is my third year receiving SARA. I usually spend it according to my household needs. I also set some aside for Ramadan and Aidilfitri,” the single mother told Bernama.
As a single mother currently out of work, with two children pursuing higher education, she added that more local shops should become SARA partners for better access to essential goods.
In Shah Alam, assistant convenience store manager Aiman Amin, 30, said basic items like bread, powdered milk and rice are consistently among the most purchased goods by aid recipients.
Aiman noted these items sell out faster than others, adding that the initiative supports the government’s effort to help lower-income families obtain sufficient food and necessities.
In PENANG, Zen Vista grocery store owner Gooi Han Hann, 27, in Teluk Air Tawar, said that since becoming a SARA partner last June, his sales have increased. He hopes the programme continues as it not only aids those in need but also boosts income for small businesses.
“Last year in September, the SARA system had some issues, but now it’s running smoothly, and there are no more problems with transactions,” he told Bernama.
Another retailer, Nor Izzatul Hameed, 35, said the programme is more than just government aid for the needy; it also brings a welcome boost to small traders.
“Since joining as a SARA retailer, our sales have risen by around 40 per cent. The top picks are staples like rice, cooking oil, eggs, and sugar,” said Nor Izzatul, who runs Keluarga Hameed grocery in Butterworth.
In JOHOR, a survey at Econsave Pasir Gudang found SARA recipients busy shopping, with some choosing to save a portion of the aid for later.
“I usually buy a few items at a time and keep the rest, especially as I live alone,” said 66-year-old single mother-of-four and unemployed recipient, Chan Neo Seng.
Another beneficiary, Mohd Khalid Kariman, 61, who works as a wedding emcee, prefers to spend his aid all at once to avoid forgetting or overlooking any balance.
In PAHANG, rice, cooking oil, and eggs have been identified as the most in-demand items among SARA recipients at several supermarkets in Kuantan.
Assistant branch manager of a supermarket in Batu Enam, Muhammad Zailani Rosli, noted that demand for these essentials nearly doubles during the week the aid is disbursed.
The supermarket’s head cashier, Siti Aezetyl Abd Rahman, added that recipients are no longer making all their purchases at once as they did last year, leading to a smoother shopping experience.
In SARAWAK, self-employed recipient Mazlan Perali, 40, described the SARA programme as a timely measure to help people manage the rising cost of living.
“Although the amount isn’t large, it is very helpful in planning our monthly spending,” he said, while also hoping for a more reliable payment system and an adequate stock of essential items to meet demand.
Hatta Fauzi, 65, a former bank employee from Kuching, hopes the scheme could be expanded to cover fresh produce such as chicken, fish and vegetables.
The 2026 Monthly SARA payments were first disbursed on Jan 9 for five million households and senior citizens living alone, and will be followed by payments to 3.1 million single individuals on Jan 16.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also announced that the one-off RM100 SARA Appreciation Aid for all citizens aged 18 and above will be accessible on Feb 9.
