THE Federal Government's largest-ever allocation for direct cash assistance has enabled nine million Malaysians to benefit from the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programmes this year, reflecting a significant expansion of targeted social protection measures.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the government had increased funding for the two initiatives to RM15 billion in 2026, compared with RM10 billion allocated in 2024.
In Sarawak alone, RM1.3 billion has been allocated to almost 900,000 STR and SARA recipients, underscoring the government's continued focus on extending financial assistance to households across the state.
To ensure aid reaches vulnerable groups, particularly those in rural areas and senior citizens with limited access to banking facilities, the Ministry of Finance has established 20 payment locations in Sarawak and 17 in Sabah for recipients without bank accounts to collect their assistance in cash.
"So far, the programme has already been implemented at 15 locations in Sarawak, with another five locations scheduled for next week.
"STR recipients without bank accounts can also claim their assistance in cash at all Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches nationwide," he told reporters after the STR Payment and Mini Mobile Community Services (Mini-MCS) Programme in Lundu today.
Amir said eligible STR recipients also receive SARA, a monthly assistance programme that enables beneficiaries to purchase essential household items at registered SARA merchant outlets.
He added that Sarawak had recorded an impressive performance in implementing SARA, with 99 per cent of beneficiaries using their MyKad identity cards to make purchases at participating retailers.
"This proves that the MyKad-based SARA mechanism is simple, secure and effective, especially in rural areas," he said.
According to Amir, eligible recipients receive between RM600 and RM2,400 annually under SARA depending on their category, with total assistance reaching as much as RM2,500 after including the one-off SARA Appreciation payment.
Meanwhile, the number of registered SARA merchant outlets nationwide has expanded dramatically to 13,491 premises as of 16 June, compared with just 700 outlets in 2024.
He also said the Mini-MCS initiative, which brings together 11 government agencies to deliver services directly to communities, will be expanded to more locations to improve public access to government assistance and services. - June 20, 2026
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