SARA, STR 2026 Benefiting Nine Million Recipients, Highest Allocation Of RM15 Billion - PMO
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Government has allocated RM15 billion to continue the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) assistance programmes in 2026, benefiting about nine million recipients nationwide.
Senior Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, said the allocation is the largest ever for the initiatives, reflecting the government’s strong commitment to easing the rising cost of living.
He said monthly SARA disbursements for 2026 began on Jan 9, involving five million recipients comprising 3.7 million households and 1.3 million single senior citizens, while payments to 3.1 million single recipients began today.
“Overall, the 2026 monthly SARA programme will benefit 8.1 million recipients with an allocation of RM8 billion, up from 5.4 million recipients and RM5 billion in 2025,” he said during a Prime Minister’s Office briefing broadcast live on Facebook today.
He also noted that SARA implementation last year recorded nearly 100 per cent utilisation, including in rural areas, demonstrating the effectiveness of the aid mechanism.
Tunku Nashrul said that participation by sundry shops and mini marts in the SARA programme will be expanded to 10,000 outlets by the end of 2026, up from more than 3,000 last year, to improve access for recipients and stimulate local economies and small businesses.
On STR, he said STR Phase 1 for 2026 will be disbursed next Tuesday (Jan 20), involving RM1.1 billion and benefiting five million recipients from household and senior citizen categories.
Meanwhile, Tunku Nashrul said the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP) per student has been distributed in stages since Jan 11, involving RM800 million and benefiting more than 5.2 million students nationwide, including Form Six students.
He said the assistance underscores the MADANI Government’s continued commitment to strengthening the education system and easing the financial burden on parents and guardians at the start of the school year.
On the economy, he said Malaysia’s unemployment rate has fallen to a 11-year low of 2.9 per cent, signalling a strengthening labour market.
Tunku Nashrul said the Department of Statistics Malaysia reported preliminary estimates showing fourth-quarter 2025 GDP growth of 5.7 per cent, bringing full-year growth to about 4.9 per cent - above the government’s official projection of 4.0 to 4.8 per cent.
Despite global challenges, he said economic reforms, policy adjustments and stronger bilateral and multilateral ties have helped sustain domestic economic stability and investor confidence.
“The MADANI Economy framework will continue to guide national economic management, with an emphasis on balanced, resilient growth centred on the well-being of the people,” he said.
Tunku Nashrul also extended Israk Mikraj greetings to Muslims and reaffirmed that the MADANI Government machinery will continue working to ensure all policies and assistance deliver real benefits to the people.
-- BERNAMA
