Budget 2027: STR, SARA Aid Raised To RM150 A Month - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) will increase to RM16 billion in 2027 from RM15 billion, with all STR recipients eligible for SARA of up to RM150 a month or RM1,800 a year.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysians aged 18 and above who are not STR recipients would also receive SARA MADANI payments of RM100 on two occasions, before Aidilfitri and in conjunction with the 70th National Day celebrations.

He said the two forms of assistance would benefit up to nine million STR recipients and 13 million Malaysians, respectively, including those in the middle-income group (M40).

“The government has also agreed to allow SARA to be used to purchase wet and fresh produce at 216 farmers’ markets or tamu under the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) nationwide,” he said when tabling Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar said SARA’s network of participating businesses currently comprised 15,000 outlets, including 6,800 small grocery shops and cooperatives, with efforts to increase the participation of more small grocery shops next year.

Anwar said total allocations for subsidies, assistance and incentives next year would exceed RM80 billion, including fuel subsidies expected to remain high at RM40 billion and nearly RM3.3 billion in assistance from the Social Welfare Department.

He said the allocation for Jualan RAHMAH MADANI and Jualan Agro MADANI would also increase to RM750 million from RM630 million, with a target of organising 35,000 sales events

“Of that total, 30,000 Jualan RAHMAH events will cover all state constituencies, with a focus on increasing the number of events in rural areas, low-cost housing areas and urban People's Housing Programme (PPR) schemes,” he said.

The sales would be conducted not only through conventional grocery shops but also through vending machines, while Jualan RAHMAH MADANI Borong would be organised to assist small traders, he added.

Another 5,000 Jualan Agro MADANI events would offer fresh agricultural produce, including fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit, at prices up to 30 per cent lower, he said.

Anwar said the distribution of essential goods to rural and remote areas would also be expanded with an allocation of RM250 million, covering six new locations, including Kampung Terian in Penampang, Sabah, and Kampung Dato’ Godam in Pusa, Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA