KUALA LUMPUR – The government has begun distributing a one-off RM100 cash assistance to all citizens aged 18 and above, in conjunction with National Day 2025.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Bantuan Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), channelled directly through MyKad, could be used to purchase daily necessities across 14 selected product categories.
The aid is accepted at more than 4,100 outlets nationwide, including major supermarket chains such as Mydin, Lotus’s, Econsave, 99 Speedmart and Hero Market, as well as district-level retail stores.
“This is an immediate effort to ease the burden of living and as a tribute to the people,” Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, was quoted as saying by Awani.
The one-off distribution is expected to benefit 22 million people, involving a total allocation of RM2 billion.
The government has also raised the combined allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA programmes from RM13 billion to RM15 billion this year – the highest on record.
It also marks the first time in Malaysian history that cash assistance has been extended to all adults without exception.
Despite headline inflation easing to 1.1% in June – its lowest in more than four years – Anwar noted that food and beverage prices remained above the national average, stressing the need for continued intervention to cushion households from cost-of-living pressures. — August 31, 2025