THE Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced that Phase 4 payments for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) 2025 programme will be brought forward, with disbursements beginning on 18 October — nearly a month ahead of schedule — to help ease financial pressures ahead of the Deepavali festivities.
A total of RM2 billion will be distributed to 8.8 million eligible recipients, including 200,000 newly approved applicants, who will begin receiving payments from 13 November onwards.
Compared to Phase 1 in January, the latest round of STR sees an increase of 500,000 beneficiaries, following the MADANI Government’s decision to allow continuous applications and appeals throughout the year.
“The MADANI Government is committed to ensuring that the wealth of the nation reaches every layer of society. We hope that the early disbursement of STR Phase 4 will provide some financial relief ahead of Deepavali,” said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a statement released today by MoF, the ministry cited that the government has also confirmed that registrations for STR and the related Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) 2026 will remain open year-round.
The combined allocation for both programmes in 2026 is expected to reach RM15 billion.
For existing recipients, eligibility data will be automatically reviewed and cross-checked with information from other government agencies to minimise exclusion and ensure targeted delivery.
The Ministry of Finance has reminded recipients to stay alert to scams, stressing that it does not request personal information via SMS or WhatsApp. Verified information and FAQs are available via the official STR portal at [https://bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my](https://bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my).
Under Phase 4, households earning RM2,500 and below will receive up to RM700, while those earning between RM2,501 and RM5,000 will receive up to RM350. Senior citizens without spouses and single individuals will each receive RM150.
Cash payments for those without bank accounts, including residents in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, will be available at Bank Simpanan Nasional branches starting 21 October. - October 17, 2025
