FollowThis morning was more than just a routine grocery run; it was a practical lesson in navigating government aid. I took my MIL to our neighbourhood 99 Speedmart to use the special RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid credited to all Malaysians aged 18 and above on 31st August 2025. As a senior citizen, she is also a recipient of the monthly Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), which adds RM100 to her MyKad regularly. This time, her MyKad held a total of RM300 from her accumulated STR funds plus the special one-off RM100 SARA aid.
I have already utilized part of my RM100 SARA funds, and now it’s time to bring my MIL to use hers.
Our mission was to stock up on essentials. We carefully filled our basket with items we knew would last: three bottles of olive oil (a thankful yes for the SARA allowance!), four tubes of toothpaste, body wash, organic oats, a nutritious mix of red dates, goji berry, and longan Quacker oats, laundry softener, toothbrushes, canned food, calrose rice, and even a pack of sanitary pads. It felt good to be able to get a mix of daily necessities and healthier food options.
However, the shopping came with a learning curve. We discovered that not every item is eligible for purchase under the SARA aid scheme. We initially picked up Sensodyne toothpaste, only to find out at the checkout that it wasn’t allowed. I guess this brand is more ‘atas’. We promptly put it back and chose Colgate instead. We also learned that other items like face wash, batteries, tissue paper, and toilet paper are not covered by the SARA fund. Everyone must be aware of these exclusions to avoid disappointment at the counter. If you have the MyKasih app on your phone, you could also scan the item to check if it’s allowed to be purchased using the SARA fund.
When the cashier rang up our haul, the total came to RM314. Here’s where the slightly tricky part of the system comes in. The RM300 from her STR and the RM100 from SARA are two separate pools of funds that cannot be combined into a single payment. The transaction first deducted the allowable RM300 from her STR balance. For the remaining RM14, I happily topped up the difference out of my own pocket. She still has her entire separate RM100 SARA fund left for another essential shopping trip soon.
We are grateful for these initiatives. The government’s Rahmah aid – both the one-off SARA for all adults and the ongoing STR for seniors and low-income people- provides tangible relief for Malaysian families. It directly helps us manage our household budget and stock up on essentials. We now have three bottles of olive oil that will see us through the next six months and toiletries that last us for a couple of months. While there are restrictions on certain brands and products, the aid is a significant help for which we are thankful.
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