Malaysia budgets RM16 billion for STR and Sara assistance
Nine million STR recipients will be eligible for Sara support of up to RM150 a month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
Malaysia has allocated RM16 billion to its STR and Sara assistance programmes in the 2027 Budget, with recipients saying the support helps them pay for groceries and other household necessities.
Presenting the Budget on 9 October, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the higher allocation would allow nine million STR recipients to get up to RM150 monthly through Sara, or RM1,800 a year.
Nor Azura Ismail, 42, said the increase would help low-income families afford staples including rice, cooking oil and eggs. She welcomed the expansion of Sara payments to fresh produce at 216 Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) farmers' markets and tamu across the country.
Muhammad Azham Zailani, a 23-year-old employee at Menara Merdeka 118, said he uses Sara for groceries and toiletries. He said a larger payment would let him buy non-perishable goods in bulk and expressed hope that more shops would accept it.
Civil servant Mashitah Zakiah Abdul Rahman, 30, said Sara had helped her afford necessities after she moved away from her family into rented accommodation. She hoped payments would rise periodically alongside living costs.
STR, or Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, is paid in cash. Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, known as Sara, is credited to eligible recipients' MyKad for essential purchases at participating shops and supermarkets.
