SARA money does not arrive in your bank account. It is credited into your MyKad, spent at a checkout counter, and can only buy items from an approved list. That single difference trips up more recipients than any eligibility rule.
Sumbangan Asas Rahmah is the extension of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, the targeted cash aid programme. Under Belanjawan 2026 it runs across the full year, and the balance carries forward month to month rather than expiring at the end of each cycle.
If you have not checked yours, there may be credit sitting there.
What SARA Is, In Plain Terms
SARA is a cashless assistance programme administered by MyKasih Foundation under the Ministry of Finance. Approved credit is loaded into an account tied to your MyKad and spent on basic goods at participating supermarkets and grocery stores.
The programme covers more than 140,000 basic items across 15 categories at over 13,000 stores nationwide, with the retailer list still expanding.
The important mechanic: unspent balance rolls over into the following month. Purchases can be made throughout the year.
SARA Bulanan vs SARA Untuk Semua
There are two separate things being paid out in 2026, and people frequently confuse them.
SARA Bulanan (monthly)
- STR 2026 recipients verified under the Miskin Tegar and Miskin eKasih data receive RM100 or RM200 per month for 12 months (January to December 2026).
- All other STR 2026 recipients receive an additional SARA rate of RM50 or RM100 per month across the same 12 months.
- Payments began 9 January 2026 for 5 million Isi Rumah and Warga Emas recipients, followed by 3.1 million Individu Bujang recipients on 16 January 2026.
SARA Untuk Semua (for all)
- A one-off RM100 credited from 9 February 2026 to every Malaysian citizen aged 18 and above, including existing SARA recipients.
- No application required. Eligibility is automatic.
So a single person may hold two separate credits. Checking one does not tell you about the other.
How To Check Your Eligibility And Balance
Three routes, in order of convenience.
1. The official portal. Go to sara.gov.my and use the eligibility check link. You will need your MyKad number. The portal notes that eligibility checks open the day before each category's implementation date.
2. The MyKasih app. Downloadable from mykasih.com.my. It shows your balance, the approved item list and nearby participating stores. This is the most useful of the three if you shop regularly.
3. At the counter. Hand your MyKad to the cashier at any participating store and ask them to check the balance on the MyKasih terminal before you start scanning items.
For SARA Bulanan specifically, eligibility flows from your STR status. If you are not an STR 2026 recipient, you will not be in SARA Bulanan. STR applications are handled separately at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.
What You Can Actually Buy
Fifteen approved categories, and they are broader than most people assume:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Beras | White, brown and glutinous rice |
| Telur | Chicken, duck, salted, quail |
| Roti | Bread, cake, jam and spreads |
| Minyak masak | Palm, sunflower, canola, soya, coconut, ghee |
| Biskut | Biscuits |
| Mi | Mi kuning, kuey teow, mihun, instant noodles, pasta |
| Tepung | Wheat, rice, corn, tapioca, sago, yeast, baking powder |
| Minuman | Milk, UHT and fresh, infant formula, coffee, tea, juice, yogurt |
| Bahan perasa | Sugar, salt, kicap, santan, rempah, sauces, butter |
| Makanan dalam tin | Sardines, tuna, canned vegetables, beans, soup |
| Produk penjagaan diri | Toothpaste, soap, shampoo, sanitary pads, diapers |
| Ubat-ubatan | Over-the-counter items including oral medicine and plasters |
| Keperluan sekolah | Uniforms, shoes, bags, stationery, calculators |
| Barangan kebersihan rumah | Detergent, floor and dish cleaners, disinfectant |
| Makanan sejuk beku | Frozen chicken, meat, fish, vegetables, nuggets, ready meals |
School supplies is the category most under-used. Uniforms, shoes, files, geometry sets and workbooks are all in scope — worth knowing before the school year turns over.
Approved items carry a SARA label on the shelf price tag. If it is not labelled, the terminal will not accept it.
How To Pay With MyKad At The Counter
The official five-step flow:
- Pick your items from the 15 approved categories, checking for the SARA label on the shelf tag.
- Show your MyKad so the cashier can verify your status.
- Cashier scans each item against the permitted categories.
- Pay using MyKad to confirm the transaction.
- Keep the receipt so you can verify the transaction later.
Mixed baskets are handled at the counter — non-approved items are simply paid for separately by your own means. It is easier on everyone if you split them yourself before scanning.
What SARA Will Not Do
- No cash withdrawal. The credit is spendable only through the MyKasih terminal at a participating store.
- No transfers. It is tied to the MyKad holder.
- No unlisted items. Alcohol, cigarettes, prepared meals and anything outside the 15 categories are excluded by design.
- No application for SARA Untuk Semua. If someone asks you to pay a fee or share an OTP to "register" for it, that is a scam. Our guide on reporting a scam to NSRC 997 covers what to do next.
Also worth checking while you are in the admin mood: your PADU profile, since household data feeds the targeting behind these programmes, and any unclaimed money sitting with the government.
FAQ
Do I need to apply for SARA?
For SARA Untuk Semua, no — all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above qualify automatically. For SARA Bulanan, you must be an STR 2026 recipient, which requires an STR application through bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.
Does my SARA balance expire at the end of the month?
No. The official portal confirms that credit carries forward to following months, and purchases can be made throughout the year.
Can I withdraw SARA money as cash?
No. SARA is a cashless programme. The credit can only be used to buy approved goods at participating stores using your MyKad.
Where can I check my SARA balance?
At sara.gov.my with your MyKad number, through the MyKasih app, or by asking a cashier at a participating store to check it on the MyKasih terminal before you pay.
Which stores accept SARA?
More than 13,000 selected supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide. The current merchant list is published through the official SARA portal and the MyKasih app.
Who do I contact if my SARA credit is missing?
MyKasih Foundation is the implementing agency, contactable at 03-7720 1800 from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm, or by email at [email protected].
Sources: Sumbangan Asas Rahmah — official portal, SARA 2026 FAQ (PDF), Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah — LHDN, MyKasih Foundation
