SARA extended to all STR recipients and to farmers’ markets, as Anwar credits targeted subsidies for nearly doubling aid since 2022
| IN BRIEF: STR and SARA allocation up to RM16 billion from RM15 billion. SARA of up to RM150 a month for all STR recipients, up to nine million people. SARA MADANI RM100, twice, for up to 13 million adults not on STRSubsidies, aid and incentives to exceed RM80 billion |
By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 – Cash aid under Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) will rise to RM16 billion next year, and up to 13 million Malaysians who do not receive STR, including the M40, will get RM100 on two occasions, under Budget 2027.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat when tabling the Budget 2027 today that SARA assistance of up to RM150 a month, or RM1,800 a year, will be extended to all STR recipients, benefiting up to nine million Malaysians. The allocation for the two programmes was RM15 billion this year.
Malaysians aged 18 and above who are not STR recipients will receive SARA MADANI assistance of RM100 twice, ahead of Aidilfitri and in conjunction with the 70th National Day.
“The cost of living remains a pressing issue that weighs heavily on the rakyat,” said Anwar, who is also Finance Minister.
MORE PLACES TO SPEND SARA
SARA credits can now be used to buy fresh produce and perishable goods at 216 FAMA farmers’ markets and tamu nationwide. The programme currently has 15,000 business partners, 6,800 of them small grocery shops and cooperatives, and the number of participating small grocery shops will be widened to 10,000 next year.
The allocation for Jualan Rahmah MADANI and Jualan Agro MADANI rises from RM630 million to RM750 million, for 35,000 programmes. Some 30,000 Jualan Rahmah sales will be held across all state constituencies, with more in rural areas, low-cost housing and urban PPR, while 5,000 Jualan Agro MADANI sales will offer fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit at prices up to 30 per cent lower.
A further RM250 million will expand the distribution of essential goods to rural and remote areas, including six new locations such as Kampung Terian in Penampang, Sabah, and Kampung Dato’ Godam in Batang Lupar, Sarawak.
PAID FOR BY SUBSIDY REFORM
Anwar credited targeted subsidies under BUDI MADANI for the bigger handouts, saying assistance under STR and SARA had nearly doubled from RM8 billion in 2022 to RM15 billion this year.
“Subsidies are the rakyat’s privilege, yet for years they bled out to foreign nationals and large corporations,” he said, adding that had subsidy targeting been put off during the current energy crisis, “the fiscal burden would have exceeded 40 billion ringgit”.
Total provision for subsidies, assistance and incentives is expected to exceed RM80 billion next year, including RM40 billion in fuel subsidies and nearly RM3.3 billion through the Social Welfare Department.
RECENT RELIEF
Anwar also pointed to measures introduced last month: the electricity bill exemption threshold was raised from 600 to 800 kWh a month, benefiting more than eight million domestic consumers, and the BUDI95 petrol quota was raised to 300 litres a month.
He said September records showed only around 100,000 users, or less than 1 per cent, reached the 300-litre limit, while 15,000 eligible jeep and pick-up owners used their full 400-litre BUDI Diesel quota, demonstrating that the quotas met the rakyat’s needs.
- TNS NEWS