KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced a one-off RM100 cash aid for every Malaysian aged 18 and above, to be disbursed via MyKad under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme.
He said the aid is in conjunction with National Day on Aug 31 and is an immediate measure to ease the rising cost of living and a token of appreciation for the people. It will benefit 22 million citizens with an allocation of RM2 billion.
With this announcement, the combined allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and SARA rises from RM13 billion to RM15 billion this year, marking the first time in history that cash aid is extended to all adult Malaysians.
“This assistance can be used from Aug 31 to Dec 31, 2025, to purchase essentials at over 4,100 outlets nationwide, including major supermarkets such as Mydin, Lotus’s, Econsave, 99Speedmart and participating grocers.
“It will be distributed on an individual basis, not by household. So, for example, a household with a husband, wife and two adult children will receive a total of RM400,” he said in a special announcement aired live on national broadcasters including RTM, Bernama, and social media platforms such as Facebook Live.
Anwar said the cost of living remains a pressing challenge that must be addressed wisely and urgently.
He added that while overall inflation in June 2025 dropped to 1.1 percent, the lowest in 52 months, food and beverage prices continue to rise above the national average.
“There may be some among us who are financially secure and do not need this aid. The government intends to reallocate any unspent funds by year-end towards assistance programmes for vulnerable groups next year,” he said.
— BERNAMA