By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, Oct 13 – Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients are set to receive increased financial aid next year, thanks to additional funding allocated by the Federal government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said overall, the government has earmarked RM10 billion for this purpose, a 25 per cent increase compared to the RM8 billion for this year.
As a result, Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the maximum STR rate for each household will be increased from RM3,100 to RM3,700.
“The minimum rate, which is currently enjoyed by single youths, will also be increased from RM350 to RM500,” he said when tabling Budget 2024 in Parliament today.
Anwar said this improved aid was made possible due to the government’s restructuring of subsidies.
In total, he said nine million individuals, which account for 60 per cent of adult Malaysians, will benefit from the initiative.
Anwar added that the first STR payment for next year will be increased by RM200 to RM500, and is set to be disbursed before the Ramadan month in March.
“STR 2024 will also take a different approach whereby the government will accept new applications as early as November 2023, and applications will be opened throughout the year, compared to just once a year previously.
“God willing, the first payment ill be made in February,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar announced that under Budget 2024, the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiative, which provides a monthly RM100 cash aid credited into recipients’ MyKad for the purchase of essential goods, will be expanded to benefit 700,000 people.
Previously, only 200,000 STR recipients were qualified for the initiative.
