SKAS assistance increased for all recipient categories this year, says Abang Johari

KUCHING (March 7): The Sarawak government has increased the assistance amounts under the Sarawak Basic Needs Contribution (SKAS) this year, with a total allocation of RM640 million.

Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said the enhanced aid will benefit about 857,814 eligible Sarawakians under the programme, now in its second year since its introduction in 2025.

The assistance will be disbursed in three phases starting this month.

“The assistance value has been increased from RM800 to RM950 for households, from RM250 to RM300 for single individuals, and from RM400 to RM500 for senior citizens without spouses.

“Today we release the first phase before Hari Raya. The second disbursement will be in July, and the third in November when families need funds as children prepare to return to school,” he said during the SKAS 2026 launch at the Stutong Ramadan Bazaar here.

Abang Johari said SKAS is part of the state government’s initiative to help Sarawakians cope with the rising cost of living while ensuring households have access to essential food items.

“We have our own scheme because our principle is that every family must at least have smoke coming out of the kitchen, meaning they have food to cook,” he said.

The assistance is intended to help families maintain supplies of basic necessities such as rice, sugar, coffee, and tea.

“At least their rice stock can last for three months, so they don’t have to worry about buying rice and other basic items. These essentials are covered, while other needs can be managed by the families themselves,” he said.

For SKAS 2026, a total of 857,814 recipients are eligible based on data from Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah Phase 1.

Of this number, 395,802 are households, 335,591 are single individuals, and 126,421 are senior citizens without spouses.

Abang Johari noted that the programme benefited about 888,000 Sarawakians last year, with assistance ranging from RM250 to RM800 depending on eligibility.

“We refer to the data managed by the Inland Revenue Board to determine income levels, and those who need assistance are mainly from the B40 group and related categories,” he said.

The aid will continue to be channelled through the S Pay Global platform, allowing recipients to purchase essential food items from participating outlets.

Currently, about 2,249 supermarkets and retailers are part of the programme.

“With RM640 million injected into the system, it will stimulate domestic demand. Based on a multiplier effect of about 2.5, the circulation of funds in the market will be much higher,” said Abang Johari.

He added that the initiative not only helps families manage daily expenses but also supports the local retail sector by boosting consumer spending.

“As people buy goods from retailers, the business cycle continues and the economic benefits are shared across the community,” he said.

Recipients and participating traders are reminded not to convert S Pay Global purchases into cash. The state government may withdraw approved assistance in cases of non-compliance.

Eligibility for SKAS 2026 can be checked at https://www.sarawak.gov.my/skas.