Sara aid may expand to cover fresh produce
The government may add fresh fruits, vegetables and protein sources to the monthly Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid programme, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Tuesday.
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 13, 2026 at 9:14 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 13 AUGUST 2026 —
The government may add fresh fruits, vegetables and protein sources to the monthly Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid programme, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Tuesday.
Market Impact
Zahid told reporters after chairing the 18th meeting of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) that the proposal would be submitted to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for approval. “This is an important step to improve access to healthier diets,” he said.
Sara currently covers 15 categories of essentials such as eggs, bread, canned food and frozen food. It reaches 8.1 million recipients, including 3.7 million households, 1.3 million single senior citizens and 3.1 million single adults.
The scheme also provided a one-off RM100 digital credit to more than 22 million Malaysians aged 18 and above earlier this year, Zahid said.
Separately, the council reviewed the local white rice policy to balance consumer prices with the sustainability of the padi and rice industry. Zahid said a subsidised rice programme would protect vulnerable groups.
On health, Naccol examined 11 initiatives under the RESET strategy to control private healthcare costs and widen public access to treatment. These measures form part of the Cost of Living Action Plan 2030, which Zahid described as a coordinated approach rather than piecemeal steps.
Education aid was also discussed. Last year, 62,937 Form Six and university students received RM589.6 million through 13 tertiary assistance schemes. “Such support needs to be reinforced to ensure every child, regardless of background, gets a fair chance at higher education,” Zahid said.
If approved, the fresh-food expansion would let Sara recipients use their monthly allowance to buy produce currently excluded from the programme. The change could lower the cost of a balanced diet for millions of households that already rely on the aid for staples.
The proposal remains under discussion and has no set timeline. No details have been released on whether the RM100 one-off credit will be tied to healthier foods or whether the monthly allowance will be increased.
Food-security advocates and consumer groups have long pushed for broader coverage of essential foods within social aid, while the government has repeatedly stated its goal of keeping living costs manageable for low-income families.