Cara Guna SARA 2025 Full Guide on Buy Redeem and Key Dates

The government has introduced Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) 2025 to ease the burden of rising living costs for Malaysians.

Many employees are already asking how they can use their MyKad to spend this aid. Employers can play an important role by sharing the right information and guiding staff step by step, so no one misses their benefits.

What is SARA & MyKasih?

The Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) 2025 is a government aid programme to support B40 and selected M40 households in coping with the rising cost of living.

SARA monthly aid: RM100 per month for 12 months (RM1,200/year) for eligible STR recipients.
SARA Penghargaan (one-off): RM100 for all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, credited from 31 August 2025.

This assistance is delivered through the MyKasih system, where the MyKad acts as a verification tool. The money is not stored inside the card. Instead, when employees shop at participating outlets, their MyKad confirms eligibility, and the balance is automatically deducted when they buy approved items.

How to Use SARA / MyKasih to Buy Items

Employees can use their MyKad at thousands of participating outlets across Malaysia. The process is simple:

Go to sara.gov.my to check the eligibility and key in IC number (available from 21 August 2025).
Head to a participating MyKasih store.
Choose approved items such as:
- Rice
- Cooking oil
- Sugar
- Flour
- Eggs
- Biscuits
- Drinks
- Canned food
- Baby needs
- Hygiene products
- School supplies.
At checkout, the cashier will scan the MyKad and the system will deduct from the SARA balance.
Employees must enter their 6-digit MyKad PIN to confirm. The receipt will show the remaining balance. Keep the receipt for future needs.

Check the full tutorial in this video :

Where to Buy

Employees can redeem SARA benefits at over 7,300 participating outlets nationwide, including major supermarkets and grocery stores such as:

Mydin
Lotus’s
Giant
Econsave
99 Speedmart
Family Store
and many mini markets

The latest list of outlets can be checked at the MyKasih merchant list.

Check Remaining Balance

Employees can always check their remaining SARA balance by asking the cashier to scantheir MyKad during or after purchase. Some outlets allow a balance check without buying anything.

Important Dates

Remind your employees of these important dates below:

Eligibility Check Opens: 21 August 2025

Employees can start checking their eligibility at sara.gov.my by entering their IC number. This is the first step before redemption.

Redemption Starts: 31 August 2025

From this date, employees can begin using their MyKad at participating MyKasih outlets to buy approved items. Purchases before this date will not be valid under the programme.

Redemption Ends: 31 December 2025

Any unused balance will automatically expire after this date and cannot be refunded, transferred, or carried forward to the next year.

Employer Role

Employers play a key role in making sure staff understand how to use SARA benefits:

Share programme details through staff WhatsApp groups, bulletin boards, or emails.
Help employees check eligibility if they don’t have internet access.
Share the approved items list so employees know what they can buy.
Remind employees about deadlines to avoid losing unused benefits.

Common Issues

Employees may face some challenges when using MyKasih:

MyKad Cannot be Read

Solution: The employee should replace the card at the National Registration Department (JPN).

Transaction Rejected

Solution: Check whether the employee is eligible, if the card was activated, or if the balance has been used up.

Item Not Accepted

Solution: Only approved categories can be purchased. Remind employees to check the updated list beforehand.

FAQs

Do employers register employees for SARA?

No. Eligibility is automatic based on MyKad and government records. Employers only need to share information.

Can foreign workers use SARA?

No. SARA is only for Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above.

What happens if employees don’t redeem by the deadline?

The balance will expire after 31 December 2025. Employees should be reminded to redeem early to avoid losing out.

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