PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that the government will increase the allocation for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programmes to RM16bil in 2027, up from RM15bil this year, as part of efforts to ease the cost-of-living burden.
Presenting Budget 2027, Anwar said all STR recipients would receive SARA assistance of up to RM150 a month, or RM1,800 annually, benefiting up to nine million recipients.
Meanwhile, Malaysians aged 18 and above who are not STR recipients will receive RM100 under SARA MADANI on two occasions — before Hari Raya Aidilfitri and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Merdeka.
The measure is expected to benefit up to 13 million Malaysians, including those in the middle-income (M40) group.
Anwar added that the government would allocate more than RM80bil for subsidies, assistance and incentives next year.
This includes fuel subsidies, which are expected to remain high at RM40bil, and nearly RM3.3bil for assistance under the Social Welfare Department.
Last month, the government raised the threshold for electricity bill protection from 600 kilowatt-hours to 800kWh a month, benefiting more than eight million domestic users, or up to 90% of the total.
The monthly eligibility limit under BUDI95 was also increased to 300 litres, while eligible jeep and pick-up truck owners under BUDI Diesel were granted 400 litres a month.
Based on September records, around 100,000 users, or less than 1% of BUDI95 recipients, used the full 300-litre allocation.
Meanwhile, 15,000 eligible diesel users with jeeps and pick-up trucks exhausted their 400-litre quota.
Anwar said the figures showed that the monthly allocations were sufficient for Malaysians’ fuel consumption needs.
The government will also expand the use of SARA to cover fresh produce and wet goods available at 216 FAMA farmers’ markets and tamu markets nationwide.
SARA currently has 15,000 participating premises, including 6,800 small grocery shops and cooperatives.
The government aims to increase the number of participating small grocery shops to 10,000 before the end of this year.
Separately, the allocation for Jualan Rahmah MADANI and Jualan Agro MADANI will rise from RM630mil to RM750mil, with a target of holding 35,000 sales events.
Of these, 30,000 Jualan Rahmah events will cover all state constituencies, with greater emphasis on rural areas, low-cost housing neighbourhoods and urban People’s Housing Programme (PPR) communities.
The initiative will also use vending machines and include wholesale sales to help small traders.
Another 5,000 Jualan Agro MADANI events will offer fresh produce, including fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit, at discounts of up to 30%.
The government will also allocate RM250mil to expand the distribution of essential goods to rural and remote areas, including six new locations such as Kampung Terian in Penampang, Sabah, and Kampung Dato’ Godam in Pusa, Sarawak.—Oct 9, 2026
Main image: Anwar Ibrahim (Facebook)
