PETALING JAYA: The government is considering expanding the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) scheme to cover the purchase of fresh food such as fruits, vegetables and protein sources, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Zahid said that the proposal would be submitted to the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol), chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, for consideration.
“This is an important step to improve access to healthier diets,” he said in a statement issued after chairing the 18th meeting of Naccol’s executive committee today.
The monthly SARA programme currently covers 15 categories of necessities, such as eggs, bread, canned food and, more recently, frozen food.
It currently benefits 8.1 million recipients, comprising 3.7 million households, 1.3 million senior citizens without spouses, and 3.1 million single adults.
Separately, a one-off RM100 credit under the same programme was provided to more than 22 million Malaysians aged 18 and above this year.
Zahid said today’s meeting also reviewed the direction of the local white rice policy to ensure a balance between consumers’ interests and the sustainability of the local padi and rice industry.
“Among the matters considered was a subsidised rice programme to ensure vulnerable groups continue to be protected,” he said.
On healthcare, Zahid said the meeting reviewed the rollout of 11 initiatives under the government’s RESET strategy aimed at controlling private healthcare costs and expanding public access to treatment.
He said this was in line with the Cost of Living Action Plan 2030, which he described as a coordinated approach to living costs rather than just piecemeal measures.
On education, Zahid said 62,937 Form Six and university students received RM589.6 million in aid last year under 13 tertiary education assistance schemes.
“Such support needs to be reinforced to ensure every child, regardless of background, gets a fair chance at higher education,” he said.
