Since 31st August 2025, the MADANI Government has expanded the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme to include 22 million adult Malaysians as part of its efforts to alleviate costs of living challenges. This is a laudable effort. However, almost one month since its implementation, several unintended consequences have surfaced, and the Government must act quickly to mitigate them.
Based on feedback received during my frequent engagements with constituents, many smaller retailers, including small convenience shops have seen sales drop by at least 20% since the RM100 SARA cash aid began. The reason is simple: shoppers are flocking to large supermarkets and chain stores that were the first to be included under SARA, leaving smaller players sidelined.
For small businesses already struggling with resource constraints and preparing for the e-invoicing policy next year, this is a double whammy. Even though the Government has since expanded the list of participating outlets from 4,100 to 7,300, many are still left out.
My office continues to receive feedback from retailers who have submitted applications to take part in SARA, but are kept in the dark over their application status, leaving them feeling excluded and helpless.
Equally concerning is the parallel Jualan Rahmah programmes. While its purpose is to offer daily essentials at 10 to 30% below market prices, the current setup risks distorting competition. Based on news reports, only 1,234 vendors are involved despite over 15,000 sales events nationwide. In other words, many small-time retailers lose businesses to these Jualan Rahmah programmes.
To strengthen these initiatives while safeguarding fairness, I urge the Government to:
- Make it easier and more transparent for traders to register as vendors under SARA;
- Ensure strict compliance that Jualan Rahmah is to be enjoyed by Malaysians only;
- Focus Jualan Rahmah in rural areas where daily essentials are less accessible; and
- Ensure Jualan Rahmah vendor participation is transparent and not monopolised by any cartels.
The Madani Government deserves credit for acting to alleviate the rakyat’s financial pressures. But unless it ensures inclusivity and transparency, these programmes will inadvertently deepen the struggles of small businesses, which are also part of the rakyat.
I call on the relevant ministries to refine implementation swiftly, so that household relief and small business survival go hand in hand. The success of these initiatives must be measured not only by the number of households assisted, but also by the strength of our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who form the backbone of our economy.
