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THE government reserves the right to revoke any form of financial assistance, including the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), if applicants are found to have submitted false or inaccurate information, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday, amid heightened scrutiny of eligibility and verification processes.
In a statement, the ministry said every STR application undergoes multiple layers of checks and verification involving relevant agencies to determine whether applicants meet the qualifying criteria.
According to the ministry, periodic reviews are also carried out every quarter to examine applicants’ records, including home ownership, vehicle ownership, business ownership, and whether they work or reside overseas.
“If false or inaccurate information is found, legal action may be taken. The government also reserves the right to withdraw any approved assistance in the event of non-compliance,” the statement said.
The Vibes.com reported today that an individual 'bragged' on social media how he was eligible for STR despite earning rental income from six houses, allegedly pushing his total income above the eligibility threshold.
In the same statement, the Finance Ministry said total allocations for STR and the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) this year amount to RM15 billion, marking the highest allocation ever recorded by the federal government for direct cash assistance.
The ministry stated that the substantial allocation reflects a restructuring of STR and SARA under the Madani Government’s initiative to alleviate cost-of-living pressures more effectively.
Under SARA, continuous basic assistance is provided to eight million individuals, including 400,000 people classified as poor and hardcore poor, who receive monthly support.
STR, meanwhile, is distributed as additional assistance every quarter and is targeted at households and senior citizens without spouses earning RM5,000 or less per month, including those categorised as poor and hardcore poor and registered in the eKasih database.
“This integrated approach ensures that targeted assistance can be delivered in a more orderly, stable and effective manner, while also providing additional financial space during peak periods of need such as festive seasons,” the ministry said.
The Finance Ministry also announced that RM1.1 billion has been allocated for the first phase of STR this year, with disbursements scheduled to begin next Tuesday. - January 15, 2026
