KUALA LUMPUR: The government has announced the disbursement of RM2.3 billion for Phase 1 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) aid will begin tomorrow.
This funding reflects an increase from the RM2.1 billion allocated last year, following the recent rollout of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) last week.
In total, the STR and SARA programmes for 2025 aim to assist nearly 9 million recipients, representing 60 per cent of the adult population.
This year, the government has raised the maximum household rate to RM4,600, marking a nearly 25 per cent increase from RM3,700 last year.
Additionally, the minimum rate for singles has risen to RM600, up from RM500, representing a 20 per cent increase.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as finance minister, said the increase in Phase 1 of the STR aid surpasses the country's inflation rate, demonstrating the government's commitment to improving the welfare of a significant portion of the population despite rising living costs.
"Although the rising cost of living is a phenomenon affecting the entire world, the Madani government hopes that the annual increase in SARA and STR contributions will help the people achieve a more dignified life," he added in a statement by the Finance Ministry today.
Payments for Phase 1 of the STR aid will be disbursed in stages, beginning tomorrow (22 Jan). Recipients registered in the STR database will receive payments either via bank credit or in cash through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), according to their eligibility categories.
"New applications and updates for STR will remain open throughout the year. Those whose names do not appear in the STR database are encouraged to apply on the Official STR Portal to facilitate the verification process based on eligibility criteria," it added.
For further information, including questions and eligibility status checks, the public is encouraged to visit the Official STR Portal.
The public should also remain vigilant against illegitimate links from untrustworthy sources when seeking information about the STR programme.