The government began disbursing Phase 3 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid on 15 August, with RM1.2 billion allocated for 5.3 million recipients. This is 300,000 more recipients than the 5 million at the start of the year, the Finance Ministry said.

5.3 Million Malaysians Are Eligible

Of the Phase 3 recipients, 3.9 million come from low and lower-middle income households, while 1.4 million are single senior citizens. Payments range from RM150 to RM600 depending on household income and the number of children, while single senior citizens receive a flat RM150.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the number of households receiving STR rose from 3.7 million at the start of the year to 3.9 million in Phase 3, reflecting continued efforts to help people cope with the rising cost of living.

The latest disbursement brings total STR payments across the first three phases of 2026 to RM3.6 billion. Depending on eligibility, recipients can receive up to RM3,300 in combined assistance from STR and monthly Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) by August, out of a combined RM15 billion allocation for both programmes this year, the highest to date.

Checking Your STR Payment Status

If you have a bank account, your payment would have started arriving as direct credit from 15 August. If you don’t have a bank account, you can collect your payment in cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branch from 16 August. You can check your payment status through the MySTR portal.

If your payment shows as failed or hasn’t arrived, check that your bank account details on MySTR are up to date, since outdated information is a common reason payments don’t go through.

Beware Of Fake STR Links

New STR applications and appeals remain open throughout the year through the official STR portal, so eligible recipients who missed earlier phases can still apply. 

The Finance Ministry has also warned the public to watch out for fake links and scams, and to rely only on official government portals for updates. Recipients should also note that the government can withdraw STR aid if applications contain false or misleading information.

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Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

About THE AUTHOR

Iman Aminuddin

Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

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