In conjunction with the upcoming Deepavali celebrations on Monday, the government has announced that the fourth phase of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), initially scheduled for mid-November, will be distributed starting tomorrow (Oct 17), reaching 8.8 million eligible recipients.
Image credit: Bernama
Allocation and coverage
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed hope that the disbursement will provide timely financial assistance ahead of the festive season.
“RM2 billion has been allocated for STR Phase 4, with individual recipients eligible for up to RM700 depending on their category. This allocation also covers 200,000 approved new applications for Phase 4, which will be distributed from Nov 13,” the Finance Ministry said.
The ministry added that compared with the first phase in January 2025, the number of beneficiaries in Phase 4 has increased by 500,000, from 8.3 million to 8.8 million, following the government’s decision to allow new applications and appeals open throughout the year.
Image credit: Bernama
2026 STR and SARA support
“The registration for the 2026 STR and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) will remain open all year, giving more citizens the opportunity to receive government assistance,” he stated.
During his presentation of the fourth financial budget under his administration last Friday (Oct 10), Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the total allocation for STR and the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) for 2026 will reach RM150 billion.
He emphasized the government’s determination to ensure that assistance derived from national surplus benefits citizens across all income groups.
Image credit: Canva
Automated verification and online access
Existing beneficiary data will be automatically integrated with relevant agency databases to verify eligibility for the 2026 STR and SARA. This approach helps minimize omissions and ensures that assistance continues to reach the intended recipients across all income groups.
Recipients can check eligibility, payment schedules, and FAQs on the official STR website.
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