The government is exploring an expansion of the Rahmah basic aid programme to include fresh goods, pending studies on quality and safety.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is conducting further studies on expanding the category of fresh items under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme.

The Ministry of Finance stated that for fresh items, additional research is needed to ensure quality, food safety, and consumer protection are properly safeguarded before any final decision.

“The government is open to continuous suggestions and input to improve the existing SARA programme,” the ministry said in a written Dewan Negara reply.

This was in response to a question from Senator Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim on plans to expand all basic necessities under the RM100 SARA assistance to include items like chicken, meat, and vegetables.

The ministry also noted the government recently expanded the SARA goods categories to include frozen foods as a new category starting February 9, 2026.

This brings the total number of goods categories to 15, up from 14 previously.

The number of items that can be purchased under the programme has also increased to 140,000, compared with 100,000 items before.

In a separate reply, the MoF addressed expanding SARA assistance to students in higher education institutions from the asnaf, B40, and M40 groups.

The ministry said the government will examine this by first holding engagement sessions with the Ministry of Higher Education.

“The government remains committed and continues to monitor the current situation to ensure that cash assistance programmes reach those in need,” it stated.

This response was to a question from Norhasmimi Abdul Ghani on plans for monthly SARA assistance to help students cope with the rising cost of living.

 The Sun Malaysia