All to know: Further information, including a list of participating stores by city and purchasing guidelines, is available on the official Sara portal. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 22 million MyKad holders can check their eligibility for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) Appreciation Aid via the official Sara portal at http://sara.gov.my.
In a statement yesterday, the Finance Ministry said Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, or those born in 2007 or earlier, are eligible for the financial assistance, including existing Sara recipients.
“No registration or application is required, as eligibility for the Sara Appreciation Aid is determined automatically based on data from the National Registration Department,” it said, Bernama reported.
The ministry advised the public to be cautious of scams, noting that the RM100 aid will be disbursed directly to recipients’ MyKad, eliminating the need for intermediaries or third-party applications.
The RM100 credit will be disbursed starting Aug 31 in conjunction with National Day, and can be used until Dec 31 this year.
To ensure equitable use of the nation’s wealth, the ministry said any unspent balance at the end of the year will be redirected to vulnerable groups through upcoming Madani programmes.
“Recipients can also choose to use the aid for charitable purposes, such as purchasing essential goods to donate to NGOs, houses of worship or for those in need,” it said.
The ministry said households stand to benefit more collectively. For example, a family of two parents and two adult children can receive up to RM400 in total.
The Sara aid can be spent at more than 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide, a number that will continue to grow.
Beneficiaries can purchase over 100,000 essential items across 14 categories, including staple foods like rice and eggs, hygiene products, medicines, school supplies and personal care items.
Further information, including a list of participating stores by city and purchasing guidelines, is available on the official Sara portal. A FAQ section is also provided for public reference.
With the implementation of the Sara Appreciation Aid, total allocations under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sara programmes have been increased from RM13bil to RM15bil for 2025, which is 50% more than the RM10bil allocated in 2024.
All to know: Further information, including a list of participating stores by city and purchasing guidelines, is available on the official Sara portal. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 22 million MyKad holders can check their eligibility for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) Appreciation Aid via the official Sara portal at http://sara.gov.my.
In a statement yesterday, the Finance Ministry said Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, or those born in 2007 or earlier, are eligible for the financial assistance, including existing Sara recipients.
“No registration or application is required, as eligibility for the Sara Appreciation Aid is determined automatically based on data from the National Registration Department,” it said, Bernama reported.
The ministry advised the public to be cautious of scams, noting that the RM100 aid will be disbursed directly to recipients’ MyKad, eliminating the need for intermediaries or third-party applications.
The RM100 credit will be disbursed starting Aug 31 in conjunction with National Day, and can be used until Dec 31 this year.
To ensure equitable use of the nation’s wealth, the ministry said any unspent balance at the end of the year will be redirected to vulnerable groups through upcoming Madani programmes.
“Recipients can also choose to use the aid for charitable purposes, such as purchasing essential goods to donate to NGOs, houses of worship or for those in need,” it said.
The ministry said households stand to benefit more collectively. For example, a family of two parents and two adult children can receive up to RM400 in total.
The Sara aid can be spent at more than 7,300 registered retail outlets nationwide, a number that will continue to grow.
Beneficiaries can purchase over 100,000 essential items across 14 categories, including staple foods like rice and eggs, hygiene products, medicines, school supplies and personal care items.
Further information, including a list of participating stores by city and purchasing guidelines, is available on the official Sara portal. A FAQ section is also provided for public reference.
With the implementation of the Sara Appreciation Aid, total allocations under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sara programmes have been increased from RM13bil to RM15bil for 2025, which is 50% more than the RM10bil allocated in 2024.
Taking many drugs at one go may be necessary, especially for less healthy older adults, but we must be aware of the potential dangers.
There are times when it is necessary for a patient to take multiple drugs daily as they suffer from a few chronic medical conditions, but their regime should be regularly reviewed to ensure all the drugs they are on are still necessary. — Pexels
The Malaysian population is rapidly ageing, with over 11% currently aged 60 and above.
This figure is projected to rise to 17.3% by 2040.
The demographic shift has led to increasing healthcare demands, particularly in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease.
These conditions require long-term medicine use.
Alarmingly, studies indicate that nearly half of older Malaysians experience polypharmacy.
Many are also prescribed potentially inappropriate medications or fail to adhere to their treatment regimens.
This issue calls for coordinated care, increased awareness and targeted interventions.
Understanding polypharmacy
Polypharmacy is generally defined as the use of five or more medicines at the same time.
However, the number of medicines alone does not determine the impact.
The necessity and appropriateness of these medicines are equally important.
Polypharmacy can be both beneficial and harmful.
Appropriate polypharmacy occurs when multiple medicines are clinically necessary, carefully monitored and effectively managed.
For example, a person with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease may require several medicines to maintain stable health.
Problematic polypharmacy occurs when medicines are prescribed to treat the side effects of other medicines (a situation known as a prescribing cascade), or when the medicines themselves are potentially harmful.
Polypharmacy is common among older adults for several reasons.
Understanding these contributing factors is essential in order to design effective strategies to minimise medicines-related harm and improve overall patient care.
Some of the factors that can be attributed to the high frequency of polypharmacy among older adults are:
The presence of multiple chronic medical conditions, for which the long-term use of medicines is necessary,
Prescription of medicines on multiple different occasions by different healthcare practitioners, which increases the risk of duplication or drug interaction.
Prescribing cascades, where medicines are prescribed to treat the side effects caused by other medicines.
The absence of regular medicine reviews, which may allow unnecessary or outdated prescriptions to continue without reassessment.
Poor communication between patients and healthcare providers, which can result in confusion or misuse of medicines.
Widespread and accessible pharmaceutical promotions, which encourage patients to use traditional or over-the-counter medicines alongside prescribed medicines without medical advice.
Potential dangers
Polypharmacy carries genuine and significant risks, especially for older adults.Community pharmacists are one resource patients can easily access to ensure that their medicine regime is up-to-date and not causing any unnecessary side effects. — Filepic
Due to slower metabolisms and potentially impaired kidney function, the elderly are more vulnerable to the negative effects of multiple medicines.
Some of the most concerning consequences include emergency hospitalisations due to medicine-related complications, drug interactions that lead to undesirable side effects or reduced effectiveness, and adverse side effects such as dizziness, confusion or gastrointestinal issues.
In addition, when medicines impair alertness or physical coordination, they may contribute to falls, fractures and cognitive decline.
Several studies conducted in Malaysia also show that the majority of older adults do not take their medicines as prescribed.
Polypharmacy has a direct impact on medication adherence, which refers to how well patients follow their prescribed treatment plans.
As the number of prescribed medicines increases, the elderly often struggle with complex dosing schedules, leading to missed or incorrect doses.
This not only compromises treatment outcomes, but also increases the risk of hospitalisations and complications.
To address these, it is essential to provide patient education, simplify medicine regimens, and offer support through technology and caregiver involvement.
Reducing the risks
Healthcare systems around the world are adopting more proactive strategies to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines, especially in light of growing concerns about polypharmacy.
One important strategy is regular medicine reviews.
Patients are encouraged to inform their doctors and pharmacists about all the medicines they are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter products and supplements.
This open communication allows more regular medicine reviews, which helps healthcare providers identify medicines that may no longer be necessary or could be potentially harmful.
Another key practice is deprescribing, which involves gradually reducing or stopping medicines that are no longer beneficial.
Medicine reconciliation is also essential.
This process ensures that any changes to a patient’s medicine list, such as during hospital admission, discharge or transfer to a nursing home, are accurate and appropriate.
Technology also plays a helpful role.
Electronic health records can alert healthcare providers to potential interactions or duplicate medicines.
Most importantly, a patient-centred approach is needed.
When patients are involved in decisions about their treatment, it builds trust, improves adherence to medicines and leads to better health outcomes.
The most effective strategies to manage polypharmacy involve active participation from both patients and their caregivers.
Several steps are encouraged to support safe medication use:
Maintain an updated medicines list, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies.
Bring this list to every medical appointment.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the purpose, benefits and possible side effects of each medicine.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist when you experience side effects, especially if they are suspected to be caused by a medicine.
Get help from pharmacists for medicine reviews, especially after hospital stays or when there is a change in the medicine regimen.
Use adherence devices or tools to help take medicines correctly, such as pill boxes, mobile apps or mobile alarms.
The role of pharmacists
As the number of elderly individuals taking multiple medications daily continues to rise, the role of pharmacists has become increasingly vital.
While doctors are responsible for diagnosing conditions and prescribing treatments, pharmacists ensure that medications are used safely, correctly and effectively.
With specialised knowledge in pharmacology and drug interactions, pharmacists are often able to detect issues that may be overlooked by others.
These include overlapping therapies, potentially harmful drug combinations, and unnecessary or duplicate prescriptions.
Community pharmacists, in particular, are in a unique position to support patients directly.
As the most accessible healthcare professionals, they can offer personalised counselling, conduct routine medication reviews and help patients understand the purpose and proper use of each medicine.
They can also identify early signs of adverse effects or non-adherence, and refer patients for further medical attention when necessary.
Addressing polypharmacy requires a coordinated approach that centres on the patient.
As the population grows older, providing safe, effective and individualised treatment is crucial.
Balancing illness management with quality of life is key to delivering better and safer care to older adults.
For any inquiries regarding medicines, please call the National Pharmacy Call Centre (NPCC) at the toll-free number 1-800-88-6722 during weekdays from 8am to 5pm, except on public holidays.
By PAYAL CHOUDHURY
Payal Choudhury is a pharmacist at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Najihah in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan. This article is courtesy of the Health Ministry’s Pharmacy Practice and Development Division.
For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my.
The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and should not be considered as medical advice.
The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this article. The
Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
Several years ago, when prescribed a single medication to be taken daily for several months, I found it very difficult to remember to take it every day. I knew it was important and I knew why I was taking it, but even then I forgot. That experience got me thinking about the many people who are asked to take six, seven, ten drugs a day…forever. I have no idea how they remember to take all of these drugs correctly, and the fact is, most people don’t. This was made clear to me as early as my residency, when it was not uncommon for people to bring in garbage bags full of medicines. When asked how they determined which ones to take and when, these patients often seemed to go by the pill color of the day rather than any set schedule or plan.
In fact, the data on this issue—known as medical compliance—reveal an abysmal record of patients’ taking medications “as prescribed.” Reportedly less than one third of diabetic patients take metformin correctly. And only half the patients with high blood pressure take even 80% of their medications as prescribed. The end result is a multi-billion-dollar expense with unpredictable and often dangerous outcomes. How does this happen?
Unfortunately, when it comes to prescriptions, providers are required to be compulsive. We are trained not only to address every problem with a solution, but also to do so on an individual basis. If you have asthma, there's a treatment for that. If it’s heart disease, here’s another pill. Diabetes? Take three more. The list grows quickly, adding expense and, more alarmingly, often resulting in untoward drug-drug interactions. It’s gotten so bad you’d be justified in thinking certain providers delusional for even believing the patient could take the list of medications “as prescribed.” Yet, when you talk to physicians about this issue, many simply shrug their shoulders. They’ll tell you they have little choice. The current medical legal climate requires a response to each identified problem.
One solution to this quagmire is personalized medicine, a topic I’ve discussed in prior posts. I should note that personalized medicine means different things to different people, but for many, America's love affair with technology often translates personalized medicine into genomic medicine. Eric Topol wrote extensively about this in his book Creative Destruction of Medicine, explaining how, through sequencing the genome, doctors will be able to predict how each individual will respond to a particular drug. Equipped with such powerful tools, it’s not hard to imagine a future pharmaceutical industry that could customize medications, rather than simply produce mass quantities that work "well" for the average person.
Until that particular biotech future arrives, I think there is a far simpler and immediate opportunity open to personalized medicine: by identifying a patient's ability to participate in her own care and then matching the medication regimen not only to her needs and preferences, but to subjective criteria such as mental clarity, alertness, daily routines, family support, etc. Two people with exactly the same list of problems may have very different abilities and willingness to take a complex regimen of medications. A 50-year-old executive may have the same problem list as an 80-year-old nursing home patient, but will clearly have different organizational skills, financial resources as well as an understanding of why the regimen matters. For physicians to write prescriptions they know deep down their patients cannot take borders on the absurd and certainly does not constitute good care.
Although I'd like to think physicians would read this and suddenly change the way they write prescriptions, I am not that naïve. Without a significant change in how we're trained as well as appropriate protections from medical legal risk, it's unlikely doctors will suddenly change the way they practice. However, you as the patient have an opportunity to ask the questions. Are all of these medicines necessary? And if I only take a portion of the drugs, what is the overall increased risk to my health? If you find yourself simply unable to follow the regimen, have an honest conversation about alternatives. Remind your doctor that you are not a “problem list” but an individual with specific medical requirements and concerns.
Ultimately, treating problem lists instead of people may be “right" but it's not reasonable.
With less than half a month to go before the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on Wednesday morning to brief the media on the preparation work. According to the briefing, the parade will last about 70 minutes. Troops participating in the parade will be lining up in formations along Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, and they will be reviewed by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission. This upcoming historic moment is drawing increasing anticipation and global attention by the day.
The parade will feature many highlights, with several "firsts" being disclosed to the public, further enhancing the significance of the September 3 event. According to the briefing, all the armaments to be displayed are domestically made and in active service, with a large share being unveiled for the very first time. These include widely anticipated star equipment. Some of the country's strategic land-, sea-, and air-based assets, as well as advanced precision strike systems, unmanned and counter-unmanned equipment, will also make their debut. This fully demonstrates the PLA's formidable capability to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as to uphold world peace. For the Chinese people, the sense of excitement and pride is natural.
For the world, this parade carries equally significant messages. First and foremost, the international community will more deeply perceive from the parade that the forces of peace is stronger than ever. The V-Day parade will not only showcase the continued inheritance of the great spirit of war-resistance in the new era, but also stand as a solemn declaration to the world: to uphold the correct historical perspective on World War II (WWII), to firmly safeguard the post-war order, and to resolutely defend international fairness and justice.
At a time when world peace faces new challenges, armed conflicts erupt frequently, and some countries attempt to weaken the authority of the UN, countries like China have borne in mind their mission and become steadfast defenders and guardians of the post-war international order. The more fully this parade demonstrates China's strength, the greater the likelihood of driving forward orderly and constructive transformation of the international system under peaceful conditions, consolidating the post-war order, and upholding fairness and justice.
Secondly, from the formations on parade, the world will see not only a modernized military and advanced weaponry, but also a confident, open, and responsible China.
Among today's major powers, China is one of those that most cherish peace, possess the broadest international vision, and bear the strongest sense of global responsibility. This is reflected not only in its restraint on specific issues such as the South China Sea and border frictions, but also in its consistent emphasis on resolving regional hotspots through dialogue and consultation. At the same time, a Chinese military "capable of fighting and winning wars" has effectively deterred dangerous forces that seek to incite conflicts, provoke confrontation and revive militarism, becoming an important force for shaping regional peace and stability. History has repeatedly proven that China is a nation that loves peace, and this military parade will once again send this message to the international community.
This parade will also be a display of historical justice. The victory in WWII was the outcome of the global anti-fascist alliance, which transcended ideological and national interests to stand shoulder to shoulder against aggression. It was a great triumph of justice over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction. For 14 years, the Chinese people, through arduous resistance and immense sacrifice, opened up the decisive front of the war in the East, making a major contribution to the ultimate victory. Yet after the Cold War, some forces, driven by geopolitical self-interest, promoted a "Western-centric" narrative of the war, leading to distortions and misinterpretations of its outcome, which is an important source of today's international instability. China's V-Day military parade, in its solemn form, reminds the world that only through unity and cooperation, through a shared destiny, can humanity meet global challenges together.
As Xi has profoundly pointed out: "Every increase of China's strength is an increase of the prospects of world peace." China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.
By serving as a source of positive momentum for the reform of the global order, and by adhering to the vision of global governance based on consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, China will continue to provide reliable public goods for world peace and stability. What people will read from the V-Day military parade is China's unremitting effort to safeguard peace, uphold justice, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. -lobal Times editorial
Land, sea, air-based strategic weapons, hypersonic weapons to debut at V-Day military parade
A press conference on V-Day military parade preparations is held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Some of China's land, sea, air-based strategic weapons and hypersonic weapons are set to make their debut at the V-Day military parade on September 3 in Beijing, and the preparations for the military parade have been basically completed, according to a press conference hosted by China's State Council Information Office on Wednesday.
Experts said the military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, will contribute to safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as peace and stability in the region and the world.
At the press conference, Wu Zeke, a senior officer of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, and Xu Guizhong, a senior officer from the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), outlined preparations for the upcoming parade and briefed some details of the highly-anticipated event.
Troops participating in the upcoming V-Day parade will line up in formations along the Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, and they will be reviewed by President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Wu.
The military parade will be conducted in two steps: the review and the march-past, lasting approximately 70 minutes. In the march-past part, the formations will pass through Tiananmen Square in the following order: the air flag guard echelon, the foot formations, the battle flag formations, the equipment formations, and the air echelons. A total of 45 formations/echelons are arranged for this parade, Xinhua reported.
The equipment formations are organized into joint operational groups in a combat-oriented manner, including the land operations group, maritime operations group, air and missile defense group, information operations group, unmanned operations group, logistics and equipment support group, and strategic strike group, among others, Xinhua reported.
The air echelons are organized in a modular and systematic manner, consisting of advanced early warning and command aircraft, fighter jets, bombers, transport aircraft and more. They basically cover the main active-duty aircraft types of the Chinese military, with some making their public debut for the first time, according to the Xinhua report.
Some land, sea, and air-based strategic weapons, hypersonic precision strike weapons, and unmanned and counter-unmanned equipment are set to be displayed to the outside world for the first time, per Xinhua.
The number and models of equipment to be reviewed at the parade will exceed 100, CCTV News reported.
All the weaponry and equipment on display in the upcoming military parade are domestically produced active-duty main battle equipment, according to the press conference. This event showcases a concentrated display of the new generation of weaponry and equipment of the Chinese military following the National Day military parade in 2019. Its main features are as follows: It highlights new fourth-generation equipment as the main body, demonstrating the Chinese military's system combat capability; it showcases the Chinese military's new domain and new quality combat capabilities; and it displays the Chinese military's strong strategic deterrence capability, Xinhua reported.
The military parade will feature new fourth-generation equipment as the core, including advanced tanks, carrier-based aircraft and fighter jets, organized into operational modules to demonstrate Chinese military's system-based combat capability. A selection of new forces, covering land, sea and air unmanned intelligent and counter-unmanned systems, as well as cyber and electronic warfare units, will also take part, with equipment such as new drones, directed-energy weapons and electronic jamming systems, showcasing Chinese military's new-domain and new-quality combat capabilities. In addition, a range of advanced equipment, including hypersonic weapons, air and missile defense systems and strategic missiles, will be unveiled to highlight Chinese military's strong strategic deterrence. The specific models of weapons and equipment in the parade will be revealed soon, according to CCTV News.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that with all weaponry and equipment to be reviewed at the military parade being domestically built, the event is expected to highlight China's complete defense industrial sector and the country's technological capabilities in national defense.
Items such as hypersonic weapons and unmanned equipment mentioned at the press conference represent some of new-domain and new-quality combat forces in modern warfare, and they could be among the biggest highlights of the parade, according to Song.
Wang Yunfei, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that he looks forward to seeing the land, sea, and air-based strategic weapons that were mentioned at the press conference.
At present, all preparations for the upcoming military parade have been basically completed. All the officers and soldiers taking part in the parade will present themselves in high spirits to be reviewed by the Party and the people on September 3 together, a victory day worthy of eternal commemoration by the people of the world, Xinhua reported.
Remembering history, safeguarding future
This military parade is an important part of the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is meant to remember history, commemorate the martyrs, cherish peace, and look to the future, Wu said at the press conference on Wednesday, CCTV News reported.
The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression started the earliest and lasted the longest. Under the banner of the National United Front Against Japanese Aggression initiated and established by the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people fought bravely and with unity and purpose. They made enormous national sacrifices for the victory in the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War. They pinned down and eliminated the main force of Japanese imperialism for a long time, wiped out more than 1.5 million Japanese troops, and achieved the great victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, making a major contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Wu noted.
The military parade, which will display China's latest weaponry and equipment, should be viewed as China's effort to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as to safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world amid a complex global security situation, deterring those forces that stir up trouble, said Song, the military affairs expert.
China will not bully any one, but it will also not allow the history of being bullied to repeat itself, Song said.
Echoing Song, Wang said the event is expected to serve as a reminder that China is ready to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and safeguard peace. He reiterated that China's defense policy is defensive in nature, no matter how advanced China's weaponry and equipment have become. - official
A joint military band of more than 1,000 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers and soldiers will perform at the upcoming V-Day military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the world Anti-Fascist War.
