PUTRAJAYA, March 4 — More than 12.5 million Malaysians have benefited from the SARA For All programme, with expenditures exceeding RM1 billion for the purchase of basic necessities within just three weeks of its announcement, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said that the success of the programme proves that savings from more disciplined national financial management can be channelled directly to the people.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said SARA For All is the result of savings achieved by restructuring the nation’s finances.
“Leakages are plugged, governance is streamlined, and the saved revenue is returned to the people. This proves that when national revenue is distributed equitably, the benefits are felt by households across the country,” he said in a statement issued by the Finance Ministry (MOF) today.
In the statement, MOF noted that sales on the first day of SARA For All this year reached RM97 million, nearly double the RM50.7 million on the first day of last year.
In the same statement, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said MOF has ensured system fluidity to avoid disruptions to the buying experience.
“From 3,782 transactions per minute on the first day of implementation last year, the system is now capable of processing more than 11,000 transactions per minute without any delays or interruptions,” he said.
According to MOF, the use of MyKad as the medium for the SARA For All programme makes it easier for the public to utilise targeted aid more efficiently, while ensuring orderly distribution.
To date, 56 per cent of the RM100 credit under the SARA For All programme has been used by recipients for the purchase of basic necessities, and the remaining credit is still valid for use until December 31.
In terms of geographic distribution, the usage rate for SARA For All shows higher redemption rates in East Malaysia as well as the peninsular east coast and north.
The state with the highest redemption rate is Sabah at 70 per cent, followed by Perlis (65 per cent), Kelantan and Labuan (64 per cent each), Terengganu (63 per cent), Kedah (63 per cent), Sarawak (62 per cent), and Pahang (60 per cent).
MOF said the SARA For All programme not only reduces cost-of-living pressures but also supports local economic activities, particularly at the community level.
According to the statement, the SARA Business Partner network includes over 4,400 small retail shops nationwide, in addition to existing supermarkets, bringing the total number of premises accepting SARA transactions to over 11,300.
MOF added that the government aims to increase the number of small retail shops to 10,000 by the end of this year, thereby increasing the total number of SARA Business Partners to 20,000 premises.
This step is expected to reduce the average distance for the public to SARA-accepting premises to around 7km compared with about 10km currently, thus facilitating easier access.
