Unspent Sara Funds Redirected To Support Vulnerable Groups

Samuel Chua

6th January 2026 - 2 min read

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has confirmed that unspent funds from the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, or Sara programme, will be redirected to targeted initiatives for vulnerable communities.

In a statement, MOF said around RM150 million in unutilised funds from ‘Sara Untuk Semua’ will be channelled into social support programmes following strong take up of the assistance last year.

Support For Shelters, Students, And Medical Needs

According to MOF, the reallocated funds will be used to support residents of shelters, including victims of domestic violence. Assistance will also be extended to students with disabilities and special needs, while part of the funding will go towards procuring medical devices for vulnerable groups.

MOF added that the funds will also help expand the ‘Dapur Siswa’ initiative, which provides meals to underprivileged students.

The reallocation is intended to ensure aid allocations continue to be used after the initial distribution period.

Major Expansion Of ‘Sara Bulanan’ In 2026

MOF also confirmed a significant expansion of the ‘Sara Bulanan’ programme for 2026. A total of 8.1 million recipients are expected to benefit, compared with 5.4 million recipients in the previous year.

The programme will carry an allocation of RM8 billion, up from RM5 billion in 2025. Eligible recipients will receive monthly credits ranging from RM50 to RM200, depending on their category.

Disbursements are scheduled to begin on 9 January, 202 6 for 3.7 million households and 1.3 million senior citizens without spouses. Payments for 3.1 million single individuals will follow on 16 January. These dates form part of the 2026 rollout announced by MOF.

High Utilisation And Rural Reach

MOF noted that ‘Sara Bulanan’ recorded near full utilisation in 2025, including in rural areas.

To further improve access, the government plans to expand the number of participating small retail outlets nationwide. By the end of 2026, up to 10,000 outlets are expected to accept Sara credits, compared with more than 3,000 outlets at the end of 2025.

The expansion is intended to complement existing supermarket chains and improve access for recipients in rural and semi urban areas.

Ongoing Programme Developments

MOF said it will continue to refine and strengthen Sara programmes to improve coverage and implementation.

All measures outlined in the statement are part of existing government programmes, with the 2026 expansions scheduled to take effect from the announced disbursement dates.

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