KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — The government is still studying whether fresh items such as chicken, meat, and vegetables should be included under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance scheme, the Finance Ministry said.
In a written Dewan Negara reply on March 5, Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim said further assessment is needed to ensure quality, food safety, and consumer protection before allowing the purchase of fresh produce under the programme.
“For fresh items, the government is still conducting further studies to ensure that aspects of quality, food safety, and consumer protection are safeguarded before any final decision is made,” Anwar said.
He was responding to a question from Senator Ahmad Ibrahim, who asked whether the government planned to expand Sara to include all categories of essential goods, including perishable food items.
The scheme currently covers 15 categories of essential items, including food staples, personal hygiene products, household cleaning items, and medicines.
The finance minister said the programme’s design allows the government to monitor purchases and ensure assistance is used for intended purposes.
“The approach enables the government to effectively monitor programme implementation and ensure that the targeted groups truly benefit from the assistance for the intended purposes,” Anwar said.
CodeBlue previously reported that government data shows sugar and instant noodles are among the most purchased items under the Sara programme, alongside other highly processed foods like cream crackers and flavoured beverages.
The purchasing pattern has raised questions about whether the aid programme is encouraging less healthy diets, as many commonly purchased items are sugary or ultra-processed foods.
The government recently expanded the programme to include frozen food as a new category starting February 9, increasing the number of eligible categories from 14 to 15.
The number of items that can be purchased under Sara has also increased from 100,000 to about 140,000 products.
The government allocated RM15 billion for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sara programmes in 2026, compared with RM10 billion in 2024, benefiting more than eight million recipients.
The ministry said the increased allocation reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the social safety net to help households cope with the rising cost of living.
Anwar added that the government remains open to suggestions to improve the programme.
