The government has boosted its server capacity and expanded retailer participation ahead of the second phase of the one-off Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance, aiming to avoid the congestion that marred the first rollout.
Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican said the upgrades were specifically implemented to ensure a smoother experience for recipients this time around.
“To improve the rakyat’s experience in the second round, the server capacity has been enhanced to address the issues faced before,” he said, adding that the programme now includes over 8,000 participating retailers — including more than 2,000 small grocery stores.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said public feedback continues to be channelled to the Finance Ministry, which will determine further improvements to the scheme.
The second RM100 Sara payment, announced under Budget 2026, will be available from February next year.
The first phase, launched on August 31, saw heavy system strain and long queues as millions rushed to redeem their aid. Despite the early challenges, more than 1.84 million people redeemed RM118.9 million worth of goods within the programme’s first two days.
