Nearly Nine Million Malaysians Benefit From STR and SARA as Allocation Rises to RM15 Billion
LUNDI: Nearly nine million Malaysians are now benefiting from the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programmes, making them among the country’s largest social assistance initiatives aimed at easing the burden of rising living costs.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the government has allocated RM15 billion for the implementation of both programmes this year, a substantial increase from RM10 billion allocated in 2024.
He said the higher allocation reflects the government’s continued commitment to strengthening the nation’s social protection system and ensuring assistance reaches those who need it most.
“To date, almost nine million Malaysians nationwide are benefiting from STR and SARA.
“The allocation for these programmes this year has increased to RM15 billion compared with RM10 billion in 2024, allowing us to extend assistance to more people,” he said.
Amir Hamzah was speaking at a press conference after attending the STR Redemption and Mini Mobile Community Services (Mini-MCS) Programme at Dewan Mahligai Gading here today.
According to him, Sarawak alone receives RM1.3 billion under the programmes, benefiting around 900,000 recipients across the state.
He said the government has also introduced various measures to ensure recipients without bank accounts are still able to receive their aid conveniently.
“In Sarawak, the Finance Ministry has established 20 cash payment locations, while another 17 locations are available in Sabah.
“This allows recipients without bank accounts to collect their assistance more easily without travelling long distances,” he said.
He added that 15 locations in Sarawak have already begun operations, with the remaining five expected to start services next week.
Recipients without bank accounts can also claim their STR payments at any Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branch nationwide.
Amir Hamzah said the government remains committed to improving aid delivery mechanisms, especially for people living in rural and remote areas.
He explained that eligible STR recipients will also receive SARA, a monthly assistance programme that allows beneficiaries to purchase daily necessities from registered SARA merchants.
According to him, the programme offers greater flexibility because recipients can choose the products they need according to their household requirements.
“The government wants to ensure that assistance is channelled effectively and used for essential needs.
“Through SARA, recipients can purchase daily necessities conveniently using their MyKad at participating outlets,” he said.
Amir Hamzah noted that Sarawak has recorded an impressive performance under the SARA programme, with 99 per cent of recipients using their MyKad to make purchases at registered stores.
He said the achievement demonstrates that the MyKad-based assistance system is practical, secure and efficient, particularly for residents in rural areas.
“This proves that the MyKad mechanism works well and is accepted by the people.
“It simplifies the purchasing process and helps ensure that the aid is used as intended,” he said.
The minister explained that SARA recipients receive annual assistance ranging from RM600 to RM2,400 depending on their eligibility category.
The amount can increase to RM2,500 when combined with the one-off SARA Appreciation payment offered to qualified recipients.
Meanwhile, Amir Hamzah revealed that the number of registered SARA merchants has expanded significantly to 13,491 outlets nationwide as of June 16.
The figure represents a dramatic increase from only 700 participating outlets in 2024.
He said the rapid growth of the merchant network will make it easier for recipients to access essential goods at locations closer to their homes.
“The government will continue to expand the SARA merchant network so that more Malaysians can enjoy easier access to this facility.
“Our priority is to ensure that every ringgit spent on assistance programmes brings meaningful benefits to the people,” he said.
