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STR, Sara: Total aid the same in 2027, but less cash for low-income families
Cash aid for low-income families that receive Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) will be slashed again in 2027, with the reduction offset by an increase in Rahmah Basic Contribution (Sara) aid.
Data provided in an Inland Revenue Board FAQ on STR for next year indicated that for families earning less than RM2,500, the amount of cash is reduced by up to RM600 per year...
Cash aid for low-income families that receive Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) will be slashed again in 2027, with the reduction offset by an increase in Rahmah Basic Contribution (Sara) aid.
Data provided in an Inland Revenue Board FAQ on STR for next year indicated that for families earning less than RM2,500, the amount of cash is reduced by up to RM600 per year.
However, total aid remains largely the same thanks to the Sara aid being increased to RM1,800 for this income group.
A family with five children, for example, will receive RM1,600 in STR cash aid next year, compared to RM2,200 this year.
The exception is families without children whose cash aid was only cut by RM500, and would therefore get RM100 extra in 2027.
Meanwhile, families earning between RM2,501 and RM5,000 per month will receive the same amount of STR and Sara as they did this year, with the groceries aid remaining at RM1,200.
This will be the second year in a row that the government has cut STR payouts in exchange for higher Sara aid with total aid remaining the same. Cash aid for 2026 was RM300 less across the board compared to 2025.
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Please provide a clear explanation of this STR and the SARA for a start. This is a whole lot of jargon which fails to say what they are, who it is for and how the common man on the street can check for eligibility. Would authorities be surprised to learn that many marginalised groups fail to seek this help out because the basic information about these different schemes is not made clear? The access is also not clear. The departments running these aid schemes should make information easily available to the public so the neglected and marginalised groups get help without the need for Digital ID or some app that frequently fails to work. Why is it not possible for people to just use their IC numbers to check for eligibility? Exactly how many IDs does an average Malaysian need? How many hoops must a vulnerable person jump through for a bit of support? How many in B40 and M40 have easy access to these offices without needing some convoluted use of an app? And given the incredible numbers of apps employed by some of these offices, we have to wonder what it has facilitated. The overwhelming crowds are still there. The numbering systems are still haywire and the services are still slow.
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