PAYMENTS under Phase Three of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) will begin today (Aug 15), with 5.3 million recipients set to receive assistance under the Government’s efforts to ease the financial burden on lower- and lower-middle-income Malaysians.
The Madani Government has allocated RM1.2 billion for the third phase, with the number of recipients increasing by 300,000 from the five million who received assistance at the beginning of the year.
Of the 5.3 million recipients, 3.9 million are from low- and lower-middle-income households, while 1.4 million are single senior citizens.
Eligible recipients will receive between RM150 and RM600 in Phase Three, depending on their income and number of children, while single senior citizens will receive RM150.
The total amount disbursed under the first three STR phases in 2026 will reach RM3.6 billion.
Depending on their eligibility category, recipients can receive up to RM3,300 cumulatively by August through STR Phases One to Three and monthly Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) assistance.
This amount excludes the one-off SARA for All payment extended to all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above.
Beginning this year, Government assistance has been restructured to provide more systematic support throughout the year, with STR distributed quarterly and SARA providing monthly basic assistance to eligible recipients.
"With the cost of living remaining a challenge for some Malaysians, the Government will continue to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it. This is why the number of households receiving STR has increased from 3.7 million at the beginning of the year to 3.9 million in Phase Three," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
"STR and SARA help ease the needs of Malaysians today, while the Government continues to implement reforms and strengthen the economy to raise incomes and improve the people’s standard of living. Our goal is not merely to provide assistance, but to ensure that the lives of Malaysians improve," he added.
The Finance Ministry (MOF) said the Government’s financial restructuring and improvements in governance had enabled more national revenue to be channelled towards Malaysians in need.
Total allocations for STR and SARA in 2026 amount to RM15 billion, the highest in the history of the Federal Government and nearly three times the amount distributed under the former Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) scheme in 2016.
Recipients with bank accounts will receive their Phase Three STR payments through direct crediting from today, Aug 15.
Those without bank accounts can collect their payments in cash at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches nationwide.
To reduce the risk of eligible Malaysians being left out, new STR applications and appeals remain open throughout the year through the official STR portal.
Frequently asked questions on STR are also available through the portal, while information on SARA can be obtained through the official SARA portal.
MOF also reminded the public to remain vigilant against fake links and attempted scams and to rely only on official STR channels for the latest information. - August 15, 2026
