{
  "id": 983050,
  "title": "Finance Ministry to roll out RM1.2b in STR cash aid for 5.3 million recipients from today",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/finance-ministry-to-roll-out-rm1-2b-in-str-cash-aid-for-5-3-million",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-15T07:18:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/15/finance-ministry-to-roll-out-rm12b-in-str-cash-aid-for-53-million-recipients-from-today/231468"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Finance Ministry of Malaysia has announced that the third phase of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid will be distributed to 5.3 million recipients starting today, with a total allocation of RM1.2 billion. This phase sees an increase in the number of recipients, with 3.9 million being low- and middle-income households and 1.4 million being single senior citizens. Each recipient will receive between RM150 and RM600, depending on their income and the number of children they have, while single senior citizens will receive a fixed amount of RM150. The total disbursement for the first three phases of 2026 has reached RM3.6 billion, with recipients potentially receiving up to RM3,300 in total by August 2026. The Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, emphasized the government's commitment to providing regular assistance to those in need, as the cost of living remains a challenge. The STR and SARA (Single Parent and Child Allowance) schemes have been revamped to provide more consistent support, with STR payments made quarterly and SARA payments made monthly.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "MOF: RM1.2b STR Phase Three payments begin for 5.3 million recipients",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/mof-rm1-2b-str-phase-three-payments-begin-for-5-3-million-recipients",
        "published": "2026-08-15T04:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "STR to 5.3mil recipients as Phase 3 of cash aid starts today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/str-to-5-3mil-recipients-as-phase-3-of-cash-aid-starts-today",
        "published": "2026-08-15T06:33:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Phase 3 STR cash aid payout begins today for 5.3 million recipients",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/phase-3-str-cash-aid-payout-begins-today-for-5-3-million-recipients",
        "published": "2026-08-15T06:53:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Finance Ministry to roll out RM1.2b in STR cash aid for 5.3 million recipients from today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/finance-ministry-to-roll-out-rm1-2b-in-str-cash-aid-for-5-3-million-984137",
        "published": "2026-08-15T07:18:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}