Amir Hamzah (second right) during a visit to Sara outlet at Budget Point Grocery Store in Samariang. – Bernama photo
KUCHING (June 24): A simplified point-of-sale (POS) ecosystem has been introduced to eliminate technical and financial barriers for small retailers wishing to participate in the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) targeted aid programme, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
He said the new system was rolled out specifically to remove the burden on micro-merchants of investing in expensive and complex transaction infrastructure.
“To encourage small, local shops to join, we recognised that a major hurdle was the requirement for a digital system to process Sara transactions. Many small retailers simply cannot afford complex setups.
“Under our latest initiative, we have developed a brand-new, simplified ecosystem specifically for small retailers. They no longer have to invest in complex infrastructure.
“This will make onboarding hassle-free and pave the way for more neighborhood sundry shops to enter the programme,” he told reporters during a visit to a Sara merchant outlet here.
Amir Hamzah said the streamlined POS system would benefit both consumers and the local economy.
He said expanding the digital network ensures Sara recipients do not have to travel far to redeem aid, while also helping boost revenue for local businesses.
Nationwide, the Sara programme has seen strong growth, expanding from just 700 partner stores at its inception in 2024 to more than 13,500 outlets today.
The digital push has also been particularly successful in Sarawak, which currently hosts nearly 1,450 Sara-approved merchants and records a utilisation rate of over 99.5 per cent.
Amir Hamzah attributed the high adoption rate to the seamless integration of MyKad verification with merchant POS terminals.
“The delivery of aid has been vastly simplified through digitalisation. Recipients only need to bring their MyKad and insert it into the shop’s reader.
“The system automatically verifies their eligibility and available balance. It completely eliminates complicated procedures for the rakyat,” he said.
He said the new POS system also allows small retailers to tap into a wider supply network.
The Sara ecosystem now carries nearly 150,000 product types, with an emphasis on allocating shelf space for local entrepreneurs.
“For example, in Kuching, we want local food products that residents love to be readily available through this system.
“This ensures a win-win situation where local manufacturers get a return, small retailers boost their sales via government-backed transactions, and vulnerable groups receive targeted aid,” he added.
On the broader economic front, Amir Hamzah said fiscal savings from targeted subsidy rationalisation, including efforts to plug leakages in diesel distribution, are being channelled back into welfare programmes such as Sara and cash assistance mechanisms like Budi Madani.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to continuously refining digital transaction systems based on ground feedback to ensure aid reaches target groups efficiently without disrupting retail operations.
