KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said improvements to the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid, which were rolled out today, were formulated to ensure the people can fulfil their basic needs in a more orderly, targeted and continuous way.
Anwar, in a Facebook post tonight, said the move is in line with the Madani Government’s determination to ease the people’s cost-of-living burden, with a total of 3.1 single people also receiving SARA aid credited through their MyKad.
The initiative, he said, is not just about cash aid, but also about rejuvenating the local economy through the participation of small traders in the SARA network.
“The participation of small shops in the SARA network is expanded to 10,000 premises nationwide, so the country’s wealth is not confined centrally but flows back to small traders in cities, towns and villages,” he said.
Anwar said the Madani Government will continue to ensure no one is marginalised or left behind in efforts to meet their basic daily needs.
“This is the Madani spirit, that is, we jointly step forward to build the country’s future based on justice, peace and prosperity for all, in line with the aspirations of the Madani Economy Framework,” he said.
The SARA aid for singles is being disbursed from today, with those eligible receiving up to RM100 per month, credited to their MyKad. It can be used to purchase essentials at registered supermarkets.
At the same time, the disbursement of the 2026 monthly SARA aid, which began on January 9, involves five million recipients, comprising 3.7 million households and 1.3 million unmarried senior citizens, while disbursements to 3.1 million unmarried people began today.
Overall, the 2026 monthly SARA programme involves 8.1 million recipients, with an allocation of RM8 billion, up from 5.4 million recipients and RM5 billion in 2025.
