STR Phase 3 payments to begin Aug 29 for 8.5 million recipients

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said recipients would receive payments of up to RM650 according to their respective categories, with a financial implication of RM1.7 billion.

Payments on Aug 29 will be made to existing recipients, while payments to new recipients and those with appeals will begin on Sept 18.

"Existing recipients, as well as new recipients or those who have appealed and are registered in the STR database, will receive their STR Phase 3 payments via bank account crediting.

"Payments to recipients who do not have bank accounts will be disbursed in cash through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) in stages," the statement said.

MOF said that beginning this year, the government had taken a new approach to open STR registration throughout the year, providing more opportunities for the public to benefit from government assistance.

As a result, the number of eligible recipients is expected to increase this year, considering the new application and update process conducted throughout the year compared to the previous once-a-year approach.

"If an applicant's name is not in the STR database, they need to submit an application to enable the verification process according to STR eligibility categories to be finalised," the statement added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, announced in the 2024 Budget that the STR allocation would be increased by RM2 billion, or 25 per cent, from RM8 billion in 2023 to RM10 billion, benefiting recipients that encompassed nearly 60 per cent of Malaysia's adult population.

Eligibility status checks for STR begin on Aug 29, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be found on the official STR portal at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.

MOF also advised STR recipients to be cautious of unauthorised links by irresponsible parties seeking information related to the STR programme.

"As a safeguard against scams, MOF does not send SMS (short message service) or WhatsApp messages requesting personal information," the statement added.

-- BERNAMA