PM announces one-off RM100 cash aid for all adult Malaysians via MyKad
Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced a one-off RM100 cash aid for every Malaysian aged 18 and above, to be disbursed via MyKad under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme. He said the aid is in conjunction with National Day on Aug 31 and is an immediate measure to ease the rising cost of living and a token of appreciation for the people. It will benefit 22 million citizens with an allocation of RM2 billion. With this announcement, the combined allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sara rises from RM13 billion to RM15 billion this year, marking the first time in history that cash aid is extended to all adult Malaysians. 'This assistance can be used from Aug 31 to Dec 31, 2025, to purchase essentials at over 4,100 outlets nationwide, including major supermarkets such as Mydin, Lotus's, Econsave, 99Speedmart and participating grocers. 'It will be distributed on an individual basis, not by household. So, for example, a household with a husband, wife and two adult children will receive a total of RM400,' he said in a special announcement aired live on national broadcasters including RTM, Bernama , and social media platforms such as Facebook Live . Anwar said the cost of living remains a pressing challenge that must be addressed wisely and urgently. He added that while overall inflation in June 2025 dropped to 1.1 percent, the lowest in 52 months, food and beverage prices continue to rise above the national average. 'There may be some among us who are financially secure and do not need this aid. The government intends to reallocate any unspent funds by year-end towards assistance programmes for vulnerable groups next year,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Ringgit extends gains against the greenback
At 6pm, the ringgit rose to 4.2255/2300 versus the greenback. KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit extended its gains against the US dollar at yesterday's close, lifted by the latest fiscal support measures announced by the government as foreign funds flocked into the local equity market, says an analyst. The local currency was also supported by optimism following the US-Japan trade deal which boosted Asian equity and foreign exchange markets across the board. At 6pm, the ringgit rose to 4.2255/2300 versus the greenback compared with Tuesday's close of 4.2300/2370. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said the ringgit was supported by regional tailwinds after US President Donald Trump struck a 'massive' trade deal with Japan on Tuesday, which included cutting US tariff on the latter to 15% from 25% The deal had boosted market optimism which lifted stocks and Asian currencies, including the ringgit. — Bernama
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Digital payments to surge in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Digital payment adoption is set to surge in Malaysia, with more consumers likely to use emerging digital payment methods in the next year, a new research conducted by Mastercard showed. The research, which surveyed consumers across the globe on payment preferences, has found that some 63 percent of Malaysian consumers prefer using new and innovative methods such as Tap & Go mobile payments, biometric payments, QR codes and mobile wallets, over traditional methods like cash or manual card entry, reflecting a widespread appetite for innovation. The research showed that Malaysian consumers are among the most enthusiastic to embrace payment innovation, as 93 percent are likely to use five or more payment methods in the next 12 months. While cash is still Malaysia's most used payment method, 70 percent of consumers used it in the last year, narrowly edging out QR code payments with 64 percent, usage of digital payment methods is set to rise in the next year. This preference for innovation applies to other emerging technologies as well, with 89 percent of Malaysian consumers saying they are keen to use artificial intelligence (AI) to manage their finances, particularly for fraud detection, payment automation, product personalization, and predicting financial outcomes. Meanwhile, as payment options grow, consumers are seeking hyper-convenient ways to manage money that fit seamlessly with their digital usage habits, the research revealed. It highlighted they want flexibility to customize how they pay, tapping into digitally native methods like peer-to-peer or peer-to-merchant payments, QR codes, wearables, and social commerce. "These findings reaffirm that the digital evolution in payments has firmly taken center stage in Malaysia. With digital-first and mobile-first lifestyles shaping consumer behavior, innovation and security in payments will be key to sustaining this momentum," said Beena Pothen, country manager of Malaysia & Brunei at Mastercard.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Tokenisation and digital assets must benefit all
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to ensure that the implementation of tokenisation and digital assets is inclusive, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In a post on X last night, the Prime Minister said the implementation would also deliver broad benefits to the people and be strictly regulated to ensure the safety and stability of the country's digital ecosystem. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, chaired the second Digital Assets and Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council meeting of the year today, which focused on the future of digital assets in Malaysia's capital market. "Among the main agenda items discussed were developments in blockchain technology, tokenisation, post-quantum cryptography, and the launch of the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI), which is a key driver of the nation's digital ecosystem." "This meeting also served as a platform to exchange views on global market trends, the potential of digital assets, and future performance expectations based on technical perspectives from strategic partners," he added. On May 6, the Malaysian Securities Commission issued a consultation paper to gather public feedback on the proposed framework for tokenised capital market products. The paper seeks input on key areas including governance controls, record-keeping and registration requirements, technology risk management, and additional requirements for licensed individuals dealing with tokenised capital market products.– BERNAMA
