The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has issued a public warning over fraudulent links and messages circulating online related to the upcoming one-off RM100 cash assistance under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative. Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying clarified that no registration or application is required to receive the aid, which will be credited automatically to all eligible MyKad holders aged 18 and above starting 31 August 2025.
“We’ve received many inquiries about how to register for the RM100 SARA assistance, along with reports of fake websites and messages claiming registration is necessary,” Lim told reporters after launching several academic events in Penang yesterday on 26 July 2025. “Do not click on them — they are scams.”
To recap, the RM100 assistance is part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on 23 July. Also mentioned are the postponement of toll rate hikes for 10 highways and a temporary reduction in RON95 fuel prices to RM1.99 per litre under the government’s cost-of-living initiatives.
Meanwhile, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching is urging the public to utilise the newly expanded 997 hotline for immediate assistance on scam related issues. It now runs 24 hours, operating under the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and led by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
“This streamlines the process and helps victims act quickly,” she told reporters during a site visit in Johor to inspect flood mitigation works. Teo added that calls made to 997 will be treated as official police reports, eliminating the need to visit a police station.
The Deputy Comms Minister also revealed that over 46,000 scam-related ads were detected in Malaysia this year alone, with Facebook responsible for around 80% of them. She cited her own experience of being impersonated in fake ads offering free books – a tactic she said continues to spread despite takedown efforts.
“I’m disappointed with Meta for allowing these scam ads to resurface repeatedly,” she said. “The enforcement isn’t good enough.”
