The government’s 2026 SARA and STR programmes will benefit nine million recipients with a record RM15 billion allocation, the highest ever.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has allocated a record RM15 billion to continue the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) aid programmes in 2026.
Senior Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Tunku Nashrul Abaidah said the allocation is the largest ever and will benefit about nine million recipients nationwide.
He said the 2026 monthly SARA programme began disbursements on January 9, involving five million recipients comprising 3.7 million households and 1.3 million single senior citizens.
“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.
Tunku Nashrul noted that SARA implementation last year recorded nearly 100% utilisation, demonstrating the aid mechanism’s effectiveness.
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.
On STR, he said STR Phase 1 for 2026 will be disbursed on January 20, involving RM1.1 billion for five million recipients from household and senior citizen categories.
Meanwhile, the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP) per student has been distributed in stages since January 11, involving RM800 million for more than 5.2 million students.
He said the assistance underscores the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on parents at the start of the school year.
On the economy, Tunku Nashrul said Malaysia’s unemployment rate has fallen to an 11-year low of 2.9%.
He cited preliminary estimates showing fourth-quarter 2025 GDP growth of 5.7%, bringing full-year growth to about 4.9%.
“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.
