PUTRAJAYA, Aug 15 — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Phase 3 payments of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid will be disbursed in stages starting today to 5.3 million recipients, with an allocation of RM1.2 billion.
The number of recipients has grown by 300,000 since the start of the year, when it stood at five million. Of these, 3.9 million are low- and middle-income households, and 1.4 million are single senior citizens.
“The Phase 3 payments range from RM150 to RM600, depending on income and number of children, while single senior citizens will receive RM150.
“Overall, the total disbursement for the first three phases of 2026 has reached RM3.6 billion,” MOF said in a statement today.
The ministry said, depending on the category they fall under, recipients can collect up to RM3,300 in total by August 2026, combining STR Phases 1 to 3 and the monthly SARA basic aid. This amount does not include the one-off SARA payment for all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above.
Starting this year, the assistance has been revamped to provide more regular support. STR is paid out quarterly, while SARA delivers monthly basic aid to those who qualify.
In the same statement, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will continue to ensure that assistance reaches those in need, as the cost of living remains a challenge.
“With the cost of living still posing difficulties for some, the government will continue to ensure that aid reaches those who need it.
“That is why the number of households receiving STR has increased from 3.7 million at the start of the year to 3.9 million for Phase 3.
“STR and SARA help ease the daily needs of Malaysians, while the government continues to implement reforms and strengthen the economy to raise incomes and living standards. Our goal is not just to provide aid, but to ensure that people’s lives improve,” he said.
Meanwhile, MOF said the restructuring of government finances and improvements in governance have enabled more state revenue to be channeled to those in need.
Total allocation for STR and SARA in 2026 amounts to RM15 billion, the highest in the Federal government’s history and nearly three times higher than the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) payments in 2016.
Recipients with bank accounts will receive their Phase 3 STR payments via direct credit starting today. For those without bank accounts, payments can be collected in cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional branch nationwide.
To minimise leakage, new applications and appeals for STR remain open throughout the year via the official STR portal at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on STR are also available on the portal, while SARA FAQs can be found at sara.gov.my.
MOF also advised the public to remain vigilant against fake links and scams, and to refer only to the official STR portal for the latest information. — Bernama
Date: 15 August, 2026 4:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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