Phase 3 payments of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid started disbursing on 15 August 2026 to 5.3 million eligible recipients across Malaysia in stages [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The government allocated RM1.2 billion for this phase, part of a broader RM3.6 billion disbursed for STR's first three phases in 2026 [7, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The recipients include 3.9 million low- and middle-income households and 1.4 million single senior citizens [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Payment amounts in Phase 3 range from RM150 to RM600 based on household income level and the number of children, with single senior citizens receiving RM150 each [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Qualified recipients with bank accounts receive the aid via direct credit starting today. Those without accounts can collect cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional branch nationwide [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. New applications and appeals remain open year-round via the official portal to minimize aid leakage [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The government emphasized the expanded reach of STR this year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, "With the cost of living still posing difficulties for some, the government will continue to ensure that aid reaches those who need it. That is why the number of households receiving STR has increased from 3.7 million at the start of the year to 3.9 million for Phase 3." He added that STR and the monthly SARA basic aid help ease daily needs while reforms strengthen the economy to raise incomes and living standards [1].
STR payments are scheduled quarterly, while SARA basic aid is distributed monthly beginning 2026. Recipients can receive up to RM3,300 combining STR Phases 1-3 and SARA basic aid, excluding the one-off SARA payment for citizens aged 18 and above [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The total combined allocation for STR and SARA in 2026 is RM15 billion, the largest federal cash aid in Malaysia's history and nearly triple the 2016 BR1M payments [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The government said it restructured finances and improved governance to channel more funds to needy Malaysians [1, 2, 3, 4, 6]. The official STR website, bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my, offers FAQs and warnings against scams [5].
Phase 3 disbursement will continue in stages, with recipients advised to monitor their payment status through bank notifications and the official portal [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
