BUDGET 2025 | The government plans to increase the number of Rahmah Necessities Aid (Sara) recipients to 4.1 million, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, compared to 700,000 this year.

He noted that the government is taking measures to improve management, correct inefficiencies, and avoid leakages, including through rationalising its subsidies and expanding the government’s revenue base.

These efforts have enabled the government to provide more meaningful assistance to the people.

“Therefore, for 2025, the government will provide the largest increase for the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) and Rahmah Necessities Aid (Sara), amounting to RM13 billion compared to RM10 billion this year.

“This increase will benefit nine million recipients, equivalent to 60 percent of the country’s adult population.

“Next year, 4.1 million STR recipients in the household category will receive Sara of RM100 per month, compared to 700,000 recipients this year,” he said during the Budget 2025 speech in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, further explained that Sara assistance will be credited to recipients’ MyKad starting in April 2025.

He said this can be used to purchase basic necessities such as food and beverages, medicine, school supplies, and personal hygiene items at over 600 supermarkets and retail stores across the country.

Unmarried individuals will receive STR assistance of RM600.

An additional RM3 billion allocation will allow the maximum amount received by households to be increased to RM4,600, compared to RM3,700 previously.

“We acknowledge and hear the complaints about the cost of living.

“Therefore, we are taking steps and implementing economic policies that involve the largest allocation increase and the highest maximum cash assistance ever provided by the government to address the rising cost of living for the people,” he said.