5.4mn Malaysians to receive RM1.1bn in STR Phase 4 payments this month

Existing recipients will receive payments in stages from 4 to 6 November, while new recipients and approved appeal applicants will receive theirs from 16 November.

The MADANI Government will distribute RM1.1bn under Phase 4 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) scheme to 5.4mn recipients, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced. The announcement was made during a review of Deepavali celebration preparations in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

Payments to existing recipients will be made in stages from 4 to 6 November 2026. Meanwhile, new recipients and applicants with approved appeals will receive their payments from 16 November 2026.

Of the 5.4mn recipients, 4mn are from households with a monthly income of RM5,000 and below, while another 1.4mn are senior citizens without a partner. Depending on their eligibility category, households will receive up to RM500, while senior citizens without a partner will receive RM150.

PM Anwar said the Government distributes part of the country's revenue through STR and the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) to support groups in need, regardless of their location, race or religion.

He said: "Therefore, through STR and SARA, the MADANI Government distributes part of the state's revenue to groups in need so that we can all enjoy a more dignified life."

Ahead of Deepavali, PM Anwar expressed hope that the Phase 4 STR payments would help ease expenses for families celebrating the festival, particularly members of the Indian community, who make up more than 630,000 STR recipients. He added that the assistance would also help other recipients manage their daily needs and year-end expenses, complementing the Government's efforts to strengthen the economy and increase people's income.

Recipients with bank accounts will receive their payments through direct credit into their accounts. Those without bank accounts can collect their payments in cash at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches.

To ensure that STR assistance continues to reach eligible groups, 1.68mn recipients who have not updated their application information for three consecutive years have been reminded via short message service (SMS) to do so. Those affected are advised to update their details through the official STR portal so that their eligibility can be reviewed for 2027. This will help ensure that assistance is distributed based on recipients' latest information.

The STR Phase 4 payment schedule is summarised below:

The breakdown of STR Phase 4 payments by eligibility category is as follows:

Recipients can find further information, check their STR payment status and access frequently asked questions (FAQs) through the official STR portal. Information on SARA is available here.

The Ministry of Finance has also reminded the public to be wary of fake links and potential scams, advising them to refer only to official portals for the latest information.

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Lead image / Ministry of Finance's Facebook