Five point three million Malaysians will begin receiving Phase 3 payments of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid from today, the Finance Ministry announced, with RM1.2 billion allocated for this round of disbursements.
The recipient count has grown by 300,000 since the start of the year, when it stood at five million, Malay Mail reported. Of the total, 3.9 million are low- and middle-income households, while 1.4 million are single senior citizens.
Phase 3 payments range from RM150 to RM600 depending on income and number of children. Single senior citizens receive RM150. The total disbursement across the first three phases of 2026 has now reached RM3.6 billion.
Depending on their category, recipients can collect up to RM3,300 in total by this month, combining STR Phases 1 to 3 and the monthly SARA basic aid. This figure excludes the one-off SARA payment for all Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, according to The Star.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will continue ensuring assistance reaches those who need it, 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,” he said in the same statement.
“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.”
The assistance was revamped this year to provide more regular support, with STR paid quarterly and SARA delivering monthly basic aid to eligible recipients.
The Finance Ministry said the restructuring of government finances and improvements in governance have enabled more state revenue to be channelled to those in need. The total 2026 allocation for STR and SARA stands at RM15 billion, the highest in federal government history and nearly three times the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) payments in 2016.
Recipients with bank accounts will receive their Phase 3 STR payments via direct credit starting today. Those without bank accounts can collect cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional branch nationwide.
New applications and appeals remain open year-round through the official STR portal at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my. The ministry advised the public to stay vigilant against fake links and scams, and to refer only to the official portal for updates.
