KUALA LUMPUR – The increased Sumbangan Tunai Rakyat (STR) Phase 1 cash aid will be credited to 8.2 million recipients starting from Monday, January 29.
The Finance Ministry said the payout of up to RM500 for each eligible household has been increased from RM300 last year.
With this, the allocation for Phase 1 has been increased by 26% to RM2.1 billion from RM1.67 billion in the previous year in a bid to help people cope with the rising cost of living.
“Whenever I meet people, the main issue raised is the cost of living, which is rising faster than income. I agree and the government is actively working to ensure that aid can be improved more significantly so that this issue can be resolved and no one is left behind under the Madani government administration,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Starting from Monday, registered recipients will have their cash aid credited into their bank accounts or disbursed in cash through Bank Simpanan Nasional in stages according to their STR eligibility.
“In line with the MAadani Economy’s approach of ‘raising the floor’ in terms of people’s quality of life, the government will prioritise and ensure that low-income households continue to receive appropriate assistance.
“The Madani government is always sensitive to the public’s concerns and will continue to improve the STR in an effort to help them cope with the challenges of rising living costs,” said Anwar
As of now, a total of 8.2 million eligible individuals have been registered for STR 2024. However, this figure is projected to increase to almost 9 million this year considering the new and improved application process, which is open all year round. – January 26, 2024