KUCHING: The RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) one-off-aid which was credited into the MyKad starting Sunday (Aug 31), has seen more than RM110 million spent nationwide within just two days of implementation.
Ministry of Finance (MoF) said over 1.7 million recipients successfully made purchases in the first two days, with spending on the second day alone reaching RM60 million from more than 900,000 people as of 9.30 pm yesterday.
“The surge in transactions prompted MyKasih to boost system capacity, enabling 20 per cent more transactions to be processed yesterday.
“Despite the upgrade, congestion in transaction processing was still recorded at several locations. Major supermarkets in urban areas also experienced crowding during peak hours between 1.00pm and 2.30 pm,” it said in a statement last night.
To ease the situation, MoF said MyKasih personnel were stationed at supermarkets to resolve issues directly on-site and to support traders.
“The public has been advised to plan purchases during off-peak hours, such as in the morning or weekdays to to avoid congestion and ensure smoother transactions.
The RM100 cash assistance is given to all Malaysians aged 18 and above and remains valid until Dec 31.
It can be used at more than 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide.
