A statement was issued by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) reporting that more than 8.5 million Malaysians have received the Sumbanat Rahmah (STR) Cash Assistance through Phases 1 and 2 payments, involving a total of RM4 billion so far.
Two more phases of STR payments are scheduled to be distributed in August and November, bringing the total allocation for STR and SARA cash assistance this year to a record high of RM13 billion.
This is an increase from RM10 billion the previous year and a record high since the initiative was launched.
This additional allocation benefits nine million recipients, equivalent to 60 percent of the adult population in Malaysia.
Regarding the implementation of the SARA program, MOF reported that as of July 14, 2025, 92% of the 4.9 million recipients have used their MyKad to purchase basic necessities at participating premises.
The total number of SARA recipients has now increased to 5.4 million people with an annual value of RM5 billion, compared to only 700,000 recipients before April 2025.
The government remains committed to ensuring that every form of cash assistance reaches the target group comprehensively, in line with ongoing efforts to assist the people affected by the cost of living pressures.
