KUALA LUMPUR, January 23 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the initiation of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) targeted subsidy program in stages, commencing today. Anwar highlighted enhancements to SARA, with the allocation increased substantially to RM700 million, a five-fold increase from the previous year’s RM130 million.
The expanded budget allows the government to extend support to 700,000 recipients, compared to 210,000 last year, with individual assistance now raised to RM1,200, doubling the previous year’s amount. Anwar emphasized that the enhancement of the SARA program aligns with the Madani Economy framework, addressing wealth disparities and fostering an inclusive society as part of Malaysia’s economic transformation. Further improvements to assistance programs for vulnerable groups will be announced to promote economic upliftment and uphold the principle of equality.
