KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — The number of Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) partner stores increased to 8,700 outlets as of Monday (November 3), up from 700 outlets in 2024, said Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying.
This includes supermarkets, grocery stores, cooperative shops, and mini markets located in urban, rural, and remote areas, to ensure that more recipients have easy access to the assistance.
“The government remains consistent in protecting and ensuring that small traders and private grocery stores, including cooperative shops, also benefit economically from the implementation of Sara,” she said during a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Lim was responding to Bakri MP Tan Hong Pin's query on the government’s initiative to expand the participation of small and local retailers in the MyKasih ecosystem.
She added that to facilitate and expand access, and to ensure that grocery stores and supermarkets in rural and interior areas also benefit from the Sara initiative, on-the-ground Sara programmes are carried out alongside the Jualan Rahmah programme.
“With this approach, recipients benefit from lower-priced goods and can purchase essential items using their MyKad at SARA partner locations.
“These partners are also participants in the Jualan Rahmah Programme and primarily consist of privately-owned grocery stores,” Lim said.
