Hardcore poor can get RM600 worth of groceries at 600 outlets

Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid recipients can make cashless purchases of basic necessities at 600 selected supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide, said Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan.

Among the retail outlets participating in the programme are Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, 99 Speedmart, Econsave, Lotus's Malaysia and Giant Hypermarket.

“Sara recipients need only show their MyKad when making purchases at any of these 600 supermarkets or grocery stores.

“Any balance from the first month’s contributions (which begin today) can be carried forward to the next month,” he told a press conference after launching the Handholding Indirect Tax and Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) 2.0 in Putrajaya today.

Ahmad (above) said the list of participating outlets is available on the official portal of Rahmah Cash Aid (STR).

Yesterday, the government announced that more than 210,000 STR recipients in the hardcore poor category based on e-Kasih data will receive RM600 in Sara aid beginning today, with RM100 cash per month for six months until December.

VDP revenue

On another matter, Ahmad said the Customs Department had collected revenue totalling RM5.57 million through the VDP 2.0 between June 6 and July 15.

He said the programme, which runs from June 1 this year to May 31, 2024, is targeting 2,000 applications involving revenue collections of RM200 million.

The VDP offers opportunities to companies and individuals to voluntarily own up to and settle their tax dues without having to pay any penalties, he explained.

“To create a more positive, effective and efficient tax culture, the Finance Ministry through the Customs Department has undertaken tax reforms to encourage taxpayers to voluntarily declare their taxable goods or services, including tourism tax,” he added.

VDP 2.0 is a continuation of the earlier initiative implemented from Jan 1 to Sept 30, 2022, which involved 16,880 applications and netted RM700 million in tax revenue.

- Bernama