Bandar Kuching MP Dr. Kelvin Yii expresses his appreciation to the Ministry of Finance for taking his suggestions into consideration, following the government’s announcement that it will continue to expand the MyKasih merchant partnership initiative. This expansion aims to enable more small and medium retailers to participate, thereby increasing the accessibility and coverage of the SARA cash assistance programme. This would make it easier for recipients to spend their aid at nearby shops while also boosting local economic growth.
In a statement today, Dr. Yii said that Deputy Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, informed parliament yesterday that the government supports his proposal and is currently considering widening the scope of the existing SARA programme to include more small traders and grocery shop operators. This move will allow the public to spend their aid more conveniently while strengthening the local economy and supporting the growth of small businesses.
Amir revealed that, as of 3rd November 2025, there are over 8700 participating SARA merchants, of which around 2500 are small retailers. In comparison, there were only about 700 stores in the year 2024, with around 180 small retailers. This shows that the programme’s network of participating merchants has significantly expanded.
At the same time, the Ministry of Finance is also planning to broaden the SARA assistance scope beyond basic food items to include school supplies and hygiene products, among other daily necessities. The ministry will continue to explore further improvements to enhance the implementation and effectiveness of the existing SARA programme.
In response, Dr. Yii urged the government to speed up the application and approval process for small and medium retailers and grocery shops, so that more eligible merchants are able to join tne programme and benefit more communities and families.
He pointed out that during a previous parliamentary session, some business owners had voiced up about the lengthy registration process for the Kedai MyKasih assistance programme, which prevented many local grocery stores and SMEs from completing registration on time, ultimately affecting their business revenue and consumers’ convenience.
He added that some small traders have also reported a drop in sales of up to 60% since the MyKasih programme was introduced, which had a noticeable impact on the local economy.
Therefore, Dr. Yii called on the Federal Government and Yayasan MyKasih to take the necessary steps to speed up merchant registration and approval, and to resolve technical issues such as the shortage of rhe point-of-sale (POS) equipment, to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme and that its benefits reach and serve all Malaysians