Arya News - Industry players cautioned that crowds would cause long queues, stock shortages, and unnecessary stress to both customers and counter staff members.
PETALING JAYA – Convenience stores and supermarkets have joined consumer groups in appealing to Malaysians not to wait till the 11th hour to redeem their Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) RM100 credit.
They cautioned that crowds would cause long queues, stock shortages and unnecessary stress to both customers and counter staff members.
Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said he expects a major surge in foot traffic in the final days of December with consumers streaming in to redeem their Sara credit.
“It is going to be fully packed, that’s for sure. It will be wise for consumers to redeem their aid before Dec 20 to prevent long queues,” he said when contacted.
Ameer Ali also urged consumers to familiarise themselves with the list of redeemable items to ensure a smoother shopping experience.
He said Mydin hypermarkets have prepared a “Sara box” containing essential items such as rice, cooking oil, sugar and coffee priced at RM100, which can be redeemed or purchased for donations.
Ameer Ali said consumers may either donate the boxes themselves or hand it to Mydin staff members to be handed to the Welfare Department.
At the Pelangi Damansara 99 Speedmart, senior cashier Khatijah Mat Ris said preparations are being made for the month-end scramble.
“We are expecting a rush mainly with younger customers, as the elderly usually complete their grocery shopping earlier in the month,” she said.
While staff members are on hand to assist, Khatijah said consumers can ease the process by checking their Sara balance and eligible items beforehand.
“All they need to do is download the MyKasih app to find out what items can be bought.
“It can be tedious for customers to find want they want if they all come in at the last minute because most items would have been sold out by then,” she said, adding that the daily peak hours between 5pm and 9pm are already a strain on workers.
Over at the 99 Speedmart store in Sunway Mas, senior cashier Norlaila Md Zin said long queues are not the main issue.
“Rather, it is the unprepared shoppers. Consumers who don’t check on items eligible for Sara purchase usually cause a standstill because the cashiers end up having to do the checks. Because of that, those in the queue have to wait longer.”
At Econsave Sunway Mas, store manager Leolarry said there is still confusion about the Sara scheme, especially among senior citizens.
“We help them, of course. We also hope more consumers will familiarise themselves with the MyKasih app,” he said, adding that stocks are generally available with purchasing more spread out.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations CEO Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said the “procrastination trend” is common among Malaysians, who would delay for multiple reasons ranging from busy schedules to hopes of better prices.
“Many consumers naturally fall into a pattern of delaying their purchases until the very end.
“Some just think there is still enough time while others intentionally wait, hoping that retailers might offer last-minute promotions or better prices,” he said.
“Also, some consumers may not fully understand how fast stock can move or may think the programme window is longer than it actually is.
“When reminders suddenly appear on social media or through friends, many feel pressured to rush to the stores at the last minute,” he added.
The RM100 Sara credit will expire on Dec 31, with any unused balance in the MyKad to be automatically forfeited after this date.
Recipients are advised to redeem their RM100 or use up their remaining credit before the deadline at over 7,300 participating outlets nationwide.