The Malaysian government is considering increasing assistance under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) schemes for 2027 if economic conditions allow, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in late July 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Anwar discussed the possibility of expanding aid with Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican around July 18 or 19. Speaking at Madani Kita programmes in Ipoh on July 19, the Prime Minister said, "To those receiving STR and Sara, I want to say that if the economy allows… we discussed whether it would be possible to increase the assistance further. In the (upcoming) budget, I will look at how we can increase the allocation to help the people" [1]. He added that some areas like Tambun would be prioritized for increased aid: "If I go elsewhere and they ask for an increase, whether in Cenderawasih or Baling, I may say, 'Wait first.' But for Tambun, we will give priority, InsyaAllah" [2].
The SARA scheme allocation rose from RM10 billion in 2024 to RM15 billion in 2026, reflecting the government's increasing commitment to direct financial aid [2, 3]. About 22 million people, representing 87% of SARA recipients, participated in local market transactions exceeding RM1.77 billion under the SARA Untuk Semua programme in 2026 [2, 3].
Anwar flagged ongoing inflation and rising living costs as reasons for the government’s focus on aid expansion. He cited price spikes in imported essentials such as onions from India, explaining, "We import onions from India because we do not produce enough locally. When there are supply issues, prices increase. These are matters we need to address" [5].
To ease cost pressures, the government plans to continue and potentially expand the Jualan Rahmah discounted essential goods sales programme [2, 3, 5].
Separately, RM3 million was allocated in 2026 to support welfare for Rela (Malaysian Volunteer Corps) members, with plans to continue this funding. The Prime Minister underscored Rela’s role by saying, "Rela plays a significant role not only in maintaining security but also in serving the people. Last year, we approved RM3 million, but that is certainly not enough. So, to safeguard the welfare of Rela members, I have agreed to continue the programme, and this year we are allocating RM3 million for Rela’s welfare" [4].
The government’s next step is to finalize the 2027 national budget, where it will decide whether to increase allocations for STR and SARA based on economic conditions.
