Besides the added convenience, the move is also a boon for small sundry traders in local communities. While the Sara programme lists 14 categories of approved goods for purchase, he said small grocers can adapt based on what is available in-store. As of Nov 23 last year, more than 3,000 small shops were involved out of 9,200 registered premises. On Jan 9, the Sara assistance began for five million household recipients and senior citizens without spouses, followed by 3.1 million single recipients on Jan 16. The one-off RM100 Sara assistance for all citizens aged 18 and above will begin on Feb 9.

Source: The Star February 03, 2026 01:37 UTC