PUTRAJAYA: Payments for Phase 2 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah to 8.4 million recipients will begin on Wednesday .In a statement Monday , the Finance Ministry said that existing and new recipients registered in the STR database will receive payment through their bank accounts or cash at Bank Simpanan Nasional branches in stages, based on their eligible categories.
"Therefore, the number of eligible recipients is expected to increase this year, taking into account the ongoing new applications and information updates compared to once a year previously,” it said. The statement also said that the government had increased the allocation for the targeted subsidy programme under STR Phase 2 by 20%, amounting to RM1.5bil compared to RM1.26bil last year, aimed at assisting low and middle-income earners cope with the rising cost of living.
"Insya-Allah, the government will further increase cash assistance to the people in line with the improvement of the country’s fiscal situation, including the implementation of targeted subsidies for those truly in need,” said Anwar, who is also Finance Minister.