KUCHING: Verification delays, weak connectivity and slow reimbursements risk blunting the impact of the government’s plan to expand Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) outlets from 3,000 to 10,000, according to the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI)
SCCI deputy president Albert Tang said the chamber supports the expansion, noting its potential to strengthen the retail ecosystem across the state.
“SCCI supports the government’s intention to expand SARA outlets from 3,000 to 10,000, as broader participation can strengthen the retail ecosystem in Sarawak,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
He said the chamber recognises the challenges faced by smaller retailers but believes the expansion could improve market access and distribution reach, particularly in underserved areas.
“From an industry-wide perspective, the two most common bottlenecks during onboarding are verification delays and connectivity limitations,” he said.
Touching on the MyKad cashless system, Tang said connectivity remains the most significant readiness gap, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
“Terminals and training can be deployed, but without stable coverage, the system cannot operate reliably – a challenge widely recognised in rural and semi-urban areas,” he said.
Tang also highlighted reimbursement turnaround time as a critical cash-flow concern for participating retailers.
“To ensure healthy cash flow, a reimbursement turnaround of 48 hours would be ideal,” he said.
“We understand that retailers are currently being told to expect much longer wait time,” he added.
“This gap between policy design and operational reality is a known concern among participating outlets,” he said.
To address these issues, Tang said SCCI is urging improvements to the onboarding process.
“SCCI’s key recommendation to the Finance Ministry and Yayasan MyKasih is to streamline onboarding through a single, standardised verification process with clear documentation requirements and fixed service-level timelines,” he said.
“Reducing administrative friction will support smoother implementation across Sarawak,” he added.
