The government’s one-off RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid has sparked a mix of public appreciation and confusion, leading to a wave of myths and misinformation, particularly on social media.
As the unprecedented RM2 billion initiative rolls out to 22 million adults, FMT is here to break down some common misconceptions and set out the true facts.
Myth 1: The aid is a cash handout
Fact: The aid is not a direct cash payment. Neither is it credited into any e-wallet or deposited into a bank account.
The RM100 is credited directly to the microchip of each recipient’s MyKad, which acts as a cashless payment tool.
The funds can only be used to purchase approved essential items at participating retailers nationwide and cannot be converted into cash.
This is to ensure transparency and prevent leakages, ensuring that the aid reaches beneficiaries directly.
Myth 2: You need to apply for the aid online by clicking a link.
Fact: This is a scam tactic.
The finance ministry and government officials have repeatedly clarified that the aid is disbursed automatically, with no requirement for online or manual application.
All Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, based on data kept by the national registration department, are entitled to receive this aid.
The public is urged not to click on, or share, any suspicious links.
Myth 3: The Penghargaan SARA credit is only for low-income households.
Fact: This is untrue.
The RM100 Penghargaan SARA aid is a one-off assistance automatically credited to all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, regardless of income level or background.
This universal gesture represents a landmark shift in government policy. It is the first time in history that cash aid has been extended across the board to all adult Malaysians.
The RM100 Penghargaan SARA credit is valid and available, and can be claimed until Dec 31, 2025 at over 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide.
Myth 4: The aid disbursement system is fundamentally broken and unreliable.
Fact: The glitch experienced by the MyKasih system on Aug 31 — the first day of aid disbursement — has been fixed.
On Aug 31, the system faced a traffic surge, reaching over 2,000 transactions per minute, almost four times the previous record of 540 transactions per minute set in April 2025.
That was because some 850,000 people spent over RM50 million on the first day alone, overloading the system and causing some transactions to experience delay and others to fail.
The finance ministry and MyKasih Foundation have apologised for the glitch.
The MyKasih server has been upgraded to triple its original capacity and is now capable of handling 2,800 transactions per minute to accommodate any future surge in transactions.
Myth 5: A private company, MyKasih Foundation, is profiting by collecting our personal data and claims to own it.
Fact: The MyKasih Foundation is a non-profit organisation and does not collect consumer data.
The government — through the finance ministry — is the sole custodian of all personal data collected under the SARA and Penghargaan SARA programmes.
As the platform provider, MyKasih has access to limited information, sufficient only to allow the foundation to contact recipients for operational purposes, such as to verify transactions and resolve discrepancies.
MyKasih does not share any personal data with third parties.
Myth 6: MyKasih Foundation determines if you are eligible for aid under the SARA programme.
Fact: The SARA programme is a targeted initiative designed to support Malaysians most impacted by the high living costs. Enrolment is automatic. Mykasih Foundation has no part to play in determining the eligibility of aid recipients.
Malaysian citizens in three categories — households, single individuals, and senior citizens without a partner — who are listed as of Oct 31, 2024 as “miskin tegar” (hardcore poor) or “miskin” (poor) in the government’s eKasih database automatically qualify for the aid.
This ensures that the aid reaches the most vulnerable segments of society directly, minimising administrative leakages and reducing the risk of misallocation or abuse.
Aid is credited on a monthly basis directly to the MyKad of eligible recipients, and is redeemable for essential goods at selected retailers nationwide.
The eKasih database is maintained by the Prime Minister’s Department.
Malaysians can check their eligibility via the official SARA website, here: https://www.sara.gov.my/.
