KUALA LUMPUR: The government will begin disbursing Phase 1 of the 2026 Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) on Jan 20, involving an allocation of RM1.1 billion.
The Finance Ministry said the payment would benefit 3.7 million households and 1.3 million senior citizens without partners.
Eligible recipients will receive between RM100 and RM500, depending on their respective categories.
In line with the Madani government’s efforts to effectively reduce the cost of living, the government has restructured the STR and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiatives for this year.
Under these improvements, more than eight million people are eligible to receive monthly Sara assistance, including 400,000 from the poor and hardcore poor categories based on the eKasih database.
This makes Sara a fundamental form of aid, providing continuous support to the people, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The ministry added that STR would be provided as additional quarterly aid targeted at households and single senior citizens with monthly incomes of RM5,000 and below, including those registered under eKasih.
This integrated approach ensures targeted aid is distributed in a more organised and stable manner, providing additional financial room during peak periods such as festive seasons.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, had said the total allocation for STR and Sara this year amounts to RM15 billion, the highest in the history of the federal government.
“The Madani Economy framework aims to raise the floor for the people’s quality of life. When the people are cared for and basic needs are met, we can collectively raise the economic ceiling with more vigour and sustainability,” he said.
To reduce the risk of exclusion, MoF explained that new applications and appeals for STR remain open year-round via the official portal at https://bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.
STR eligibility is based on established income limits. Each application undergoes a cross-verification process with various government agencies to confirm eligibility.
For new applicants, periodic checks will be conducted every quarter to verify home and vehicle ownership, business interests, and records of working or living abroad.
The ministry reminded applicants of their responsibility to provide accurate information, warning that legal action could be taken and aid withdrawn if false details are provided.
Recipients were also advised to be wary of scam attempts and fake links.
The ministry stressed that it never requests personal information via SMS or WhatsApp, and users should only refer to the official STR portal for updates.
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