The Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA) is helping small traders in Malaysia with business capital and easing festive expenses, according to recipients
KUANTAN: The Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA) is providing crucial capital for small traders to boost their sales stock, beyond easing living costs for recipients.
Trader Mohd Shukrillah Muhamed Norlida said the aid significantly eased his family’s daily expenses and gave extra capital for his business. “Alhamdulillah, SARA has been very helpful,” he told Bernama.
He uses the monthly aid to buy daily necessities and utilised the additional RM100 one-off assistance to purchase cooking supplies for his business. He added that the assistance provides much-needed relief by lowering small business operating costs.
“SARA helps me buy stuff for my shop,” he said. “As a trader, this help really comes in handy.”
Pensioner K. Ravendran said the SARA aid was helpful in preparing for this year’s Deepavali celebrations. He said his children used SARA to get cooking supplies for the festive season.
Ravendran expressed gratitude for the government’s concern in extending support to low and middle-income groups. “The aid may be small, but it is very useful,” he said.
On December 18, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said several states recorded an average SARA uptake rate of nearly 100%. He said the government has not faced major challenges despite over 20 million consumer transactions.
