Malaysia's Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) cash assistance programme has achieved a 99% utilisation rate among its nine million monthly recipients, with total spending reaching RM3.45 billion.
The high uptake indicates that the vast majority of beneficiaries are actively using the funds, likely for essential goods and services, rather than saving them.
The data, reported by New Straits Times, highlights the effectiveness of the direct cash transfer mechanism in reaching low-income households.
The data, reported by New Straits Times, highlights the effectiveness of the direct cash transfer mechanism in reaching low-income households.
With such a high utilisation rate, the programme is functioning as intended to provide immediate financial relief and support consumer spending at the grassroots level.
This development comes as Malaysian policymakers continue to balance fiscal support with economic stability.
The Sara programme, which replaced the earlier Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) initiative, has become a critical component of the government's social safety net.