02/09/2025

TUESDAY | SEP 2, 2025 5 RM50 million spent on first day of rollout KUALA LUMPUR: About 850,000 Malaysians spent more than RM50 million on the first day of the RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) one-off aid rollout as of 9.30pm on Sunday. In a statement, the Finance Ministry said the overwhelming response triggered a sudden surge in transactions, causing significant slowdowns in the payment terminal system operated through the MyKasih network at several locations. It stressed that despite the slower performance, transactions were still being received and processed. Steps have since been taken to boost system capacity to ensure that from Sept 1, purchases through Sara can proceed smoothly without disruption. MyKasih also carried out system maintenance overnight to strengthen stability and readiness for continued transactions. The ministry apologised for the inconvenience and said it would continue monitoring the initiative closely to ensure smooth implementation. It noted that the number of transactions on Sunday far exceeded the norm, with the monthly rollout of Sara previously averaging around 600,000 daily transactions until Aug 30 this year. The ministry reminded recipients that the RM100 one-off aid remains valid until Dec 31, and can be used at more than 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide. The credit is channelled directly into MyKad for over 22 million Malaysians aged 18 and above. – Bernama RM100 assistance brings relief to families SEREMBAN: The one-off RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid is not only easing the cost of living but also giving some recipients the chance to show love for their parents by providing daily necessities. A doctor at a private hospital Dr NurSarah Izzah Ismail, 28, said she would use the aid, credited to recipients’MyKad yesterday, to buy supplies for her parents in Malacca. “With Sara, I’ll buy extra daily necessities for my parents since I’ve always been the one getting their basic items. This initiative is meaningful to me because it can be used not only for my own needs but also to help my parents,” she said. A similar gesture came from Siti Nadiah Jamil, 46, an information technology officer at a private company in Selangor, who used the aid to buy groceries for her mother in Felda Neram 2, Kemaman. She said the government’s assistance should not be underestimated as it provided real relief for daily expenses. “Coincidentally, I returned to my hometown during the National Day holiday and since Sara could already be used, I took the opportunity to bring my mother, Tengku Latipah Tengku Ismail, 68, shopping at the Mydin supermarket in Kemaman. “I used both mine and my husband’s Sara to buy the groceries my mother needed. We managed to get quite a lot of items. Essentials like rice, sugar and cooking oil are enough to last half a month.” – Bernama

Sara aid implementation faces early hiccups

o Consumers urged to spend wisely as system crashes hit MyKad-linked transactions

“ICs should only be used strictly for verification. Retailers must be accountable, and authorities must reassure consumers their personal information is protected.” Universiti Teknologi Mara senior economics lecturer Dr Mohamad Idham Md Razak said the government’s choice of MyKad over e wallets was largely driven by fraud prevention and the need to ensure aid reached verified citizens. “While consumers are universally familiar with their IC, many, especially younger and urban groups, are more comfortable with e wallets. Still, the IC remains a trusted and universally accepted form of identification,” he said. Idham warned, however, that privacy and security remain the key concerns. “Handing over physical ICs exposes consumers to risks such as identity theft, unauthorised copying of sensitive data or misuse while the card is out of their possession,” he said. He added that overloads, breaches and exclusion of those without their IC on hand were weaknesses of the current model. “Consumers can check balances through hotlines, physical counters or official portals. But moving forward, policy must balance innovation with inclusion. E-wallets are the future of secure transactions, but transition strategies must not leave vulnerable groups behind.”

MyKad for use at more than 4,500 participating shops nationwide. Checks across Klang Valley outlets showed long lines, with 24-hour stores such as ST Rosyam Mart and Mydin Hypermarket drawing midnight crowds, many filling trolleys with essentials. By late morning, however, the MyKasih system handling MyKad-linked redemptions buckled under demand, forcing some shoppers to pay out of pocket. The Finance Ministry and MyKasih Foundation later apologised, citing “exceptionally high transaction volume”. Saravanan urged households to use the aid wisely. “Plan purchases carefully, focus on food and daily needs. If used impulsively, the relief will be short-lived. There is no need to rush and queue for hours. “Overcrowding fuels frustration, panic buying and even health risks. Staggering redemptions would help both consumers and retailers,” he said, adding that the aid is valid until year-end. He noted that many preferred to spend the full RM100 in one go to save on transport and time, calling it practical. “But if spending is driven purely by excitement, the programme’s objective is weakened,” he said. Saravanan also called for safeguards on consumer data.

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Some treated it as a shopping spree, others as a way to stretch their ringgit, but from midnight yesterday Malaysians were already queuing at supermarkets to redeem the government’s one-off RM100 Bantuan Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara), channelled to 22 million citizens. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations president Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said overcrowding and temporary system crashes were expected, especially since redemption began on a public holiday. “A sudden surge of consumers was bound to overwhelm both the system and outlets. While Sara aid is a good initiative to ease living costs, its true impact depends on how it is used and how consumers approach it,” he said. The RM100 credit, disbursed on Aug 31 to all Malaysians aged 18 and above in conjunction with National Day, was deposited directly into

Saravanan urged households to plan purchases carefully, and to focus on food and daily needs. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Shoppers left frustrated, public urged to delay purchases PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are being urged to delay using the government’s Sara aid after its much-anticipated rollout on Aug 31 was marred by long queues, technical glitches and confusion at stores nationwide. “Those who can still use cash or e highlighted inconsistencies in eligible items. One user said her sister bought Peel Fresh juice but only the orange flavour was accepted under the scheme, while guava was not. hours just to pay.” The glitches hit the most vulnerable hardest. “Many patrons just abandoned their carts, some even with fresh groceries. Wasteful.” Retail staff were also left struggling to cope.

MySara counters, yet this scheme is for over 20 million Malaysians. Imagine the chaos when someone comes with a full trolley,” she wrote. At Giant supermarkets, she added that staff had to use a special MySara card reader for eligible items, while other goods had to be processed at a separate terminal. “If customers mix everything in one trolley, it slows the whole process down,” she said. – by Kirtinee Ramesh

One shopper recounted how his wife saw an elderly woman queue up only to be told she could not pay with her RM100 Sara credit because the system had gone offline, leaving her disappointed. In some areas, shoppers abandoned their purchases altogether. A Reddit user from Sabah said:

At Lotus’s Ampang, one user said the MySara100 system went down entirely, forcing overwhelmed cashiers to sort out which items qualified under MyKasih and which did not. “I could feel how stressed the cashiers were. There are only limited

“Be prepared to pay separately or check with the store first,” she warned. Others complained of crippling delays. Twitter user @frieshaaina posted: “Not recommended to use Sara today (Aug 31). I queued for almost two

wallets, let the needy redeem first. Wait a week or two before using MyKad,” Twitter user @gu50217 advised, echoing the frustrations of many shoppers online. Reports across the Klang Valley