MyKasih returns after technical issue

The Star

2 days ago

Buying essentials: Shoppers purchasing goods at the special MyKasih counter at the Mydin Hypermarket in Kepala Batas, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The MyKasih cashless assistance system resumed service yesterday morning with its usual in-store transactions functioning, after it faced a technical issue on Tuesday.
A representative from the MyKasih Foundation said there were one or two retail stores that could not process purchases from recipients due to technical difficulties.
'We have been receiving one or two calls from shoppers after seeing the update on the system. They had gone into some retail stores but were unable to make a purchase.
"But this is due to the incident on July 1 pertaining to some backlog issues with the merchants that need to be settled at their terminals with us first.
'We are still trying to ascertain the cause of the technical issue,' he said when contacted.
On how purchases are made, the representative explained that beneficiaries of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiative use money which is credited into their MyKad.
Every first day of the month, recipients get a fixed amount to buy essential products with the label Sara on the shelves and pay at the Sara counter.
The credited money does not expire until Dec 31, and the amount gets deducted after purchases are made at selected grocery stores.
If the money isn't used, the amount gets accumulated.
The amount credited is based on categories set by the Finance Ministry for eligible recipients, including those who are single (poor), needy households and senior citizens.
Earlier, MyKasih had posted on its social media about a technical disruption at several participating supermarkets and retail stores.
In the statement, it said that maintenance work is ongoing to resolve the issue and users will be notified once the system is fully operational.
'We apologise for any inconvenience caused,' it said.
The MyKasih programme provides targeted aid to eligible individuals through a digital food aid system at selected retailers nationwide, with assistance that is directly credited into the recipient's MyKad.
According to the Finance Ministry, the government began distributing Sara on Jan 15 this year via MyKad monthly to 700,000 poor and hardcore poor recipients.
This year, the distribution of Sara through MyKad will be expanded to Sabah and Sarawak.
The Sara assistance rate has also been increased with poor and hardcore poor households in the eKasih record receiving a total of RM2,100 for 2025, compared to RM1,200 in 2024.
From January to March, RM100 per month was credited into the recipients' MyKad.
Beginning in April this year, the amount was increased to RM200 per month.