PUTRAJAYA, Oct 17 — Approximately 8.8 million recipients of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) will receive their Phase Four STR 2025 payments starting tomorrow, ahead of the Deepavali celebration, earlier than the original schedule in mid-November.
The Finance Ministry (MOF) said that for this phase, the government has allocated RM2 billion, with payment rates of up to RM700, depending on the category.
The amount also includes 200,000 new applicants who have been approved for the STR Phase Four payment, which will be disbursed starting November 13.
“Compared with Phase One in January 2025, the number of Phase Four recipients has increased by 500,000 individuals and households, from 8.3 million previously, following the Madani government’s decision to allow new applications and appeals throughout the year,” it said in a statement.
The MOF added that the Madani government will continue to keep registration for STR and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) 2026 open throughout the year to ensure more Malaysians have the opportunity to benefit from the government’s assistance programmes.
Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Madani government remains committed to ensuring that assistance through the country’s revenue distribution benefits Malaysians across all levels of society.
“It is hoped that the distribution of STR 2025 Phase Four will provide some financial relief ahead of the Deepavali celebration,” he said in the statement.
During the tabling of Budget 2026 on October 10, Anwar announced that the total allocation for STR and Sara will reach RM15 billion in 2026.
For existing recipients, their data will be automatically integrated into the government database, along with information from relevant agencies, for review of STR and Sara 2026 eligibility under the prescribed criteria.
This approach also helps reduce the risk of exclusion and ensures that government assistance continues to reach the intended target groups.
STR applicants can refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on the official STR portal for more information. Payment status and approval checks can also be made through the same link.
