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A total of 8.8 million recipients under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme will receive their Phase 4 payments starting tomorrow, 18 October
The distribution comes ahead of the original mid-November schedule, ensuring the funds are available before the Deepavali celebration.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) confirmed that the government has allocated RM2 billion for this phase, with payments of up to RM700 depending on the recipient category.
The amount also covers 200,000 new applicants approved for STR Phase 4, whose payments will be disbursed starting 13 November.
MOF noted a significant increase in recipients, with Phase 4 numbers rising by 500,000 individuals and households compared to the 8.3 million who received Phase 1 in January 2025
This growth follows the government's decision to keep new applications and appeals open throughout the year.
Prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, said assistance through the country's revenue distribution will continue to benefit Malaysians across all levels of society.
"It is hoped that the distribution of STR 2025 Phase 4 will provide some financial relief ahead of the Deepavali celebration," he said.
During the recent tabling of Belanjawan 2026 on 10 October, Anwar announced that the total allocation for STR and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) will reach RM15 billion in 2026
MOF added that registration for both STR and SARA 2026 will remain open throughout the year to ensure more Malaysians benefit. For existing recipients, their data will be automatically integrated into the government database for an automatic review of eligibility for STR and SARA 2026, which helps reduce the risk of exclusion.
Applicants can check their payment status and refer to the FAQ section on the official STR portal for more information.
