STR Phase Four Pays RM1.1 Billion to 5 Million+; New Recipients Paid from 16 Nov
STR phase four pays RM1.1 billion to over 5 million recipients, with new payouts starting 16 November for households and senior citizens.
What happened1/6 PM Anwar announces RM1.1 billion STR payout tied to Deepavali
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the STR phase four payout on 4 November at the Deepavali Mega Bazaar 2026 in Brickfields, Bernama reported. The Ministry of Finance statement confirmed the details.
RM1.1 billion goes to over 5 million recipients. Existing recipients were paid from 4 to 6 November. New recipients and those whose appeals were approved are paid from 16 November.
The real numbers2/6 Who gets what: RM500 or RM150
RM1.1 billiontotal STR phase four payout4.0 millionhouseholds earning RM5,000 or less1.4 millionsenior citizens without a spouseHouseholds with income of RM5,000 or less receive up to RM500. Senior citizens without a spouse receive RM150. The two groups add up to 5.4 million.
The Indian community accounts for over 630,000 recipients, or 7.4% of all STR recipients. Anwar tied the timing of the payout to Deepavali.
How it affects your wallet3/6 How the money reaches you: direct credit or BSN counter
Recipients with a bank account are paid by direct credit. Those without one can collect cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branch.
The MOF statement does not say how the RM500 is worked out for each household, nor does it list income bands below RM5,000. Households should check their own status on the official portal.
What to do, step by step4/6 Check your STR status before 16 November
- Go to bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my to check your STR eligibility and payment status. Follow the login prompts on the portal.
- If you have a bank account, confirm the bank name and account number on file are correct so the direct credit does not bounce.
- If you do not have a bank account, note the nearest BSN branch. New recipients and approved appeals can collect cash from 16 November; existing recipients were paid 4–6 November.
- If your appeal was approved, your payment also begins from 16 November. The report does not say whether every new-recipient group is covered on that date.
- For SARA-related questions, check sara.gov.my separately. The MOF STR statement does not cover SARA amounts or dates.
Why it matters5/6 Federal cash aid has grown from RM6 billion to RM16 billion
Anwar gave the scale of federal cash aid over the years. BR1M paid RM6 billion in 2018. Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia paid RM8 billion in 2022. For 2026, STR and SARA together come to RM15 billion. Budget 2027 sets RM16 billion for the same programs.
State schemes are separate. For example, Penang gives newlyweds RM500 and e-hailing drivers RM600 in 2027. The federal STR payout does not replace those.
Worth knowing6/6 What the MOF statement does not cover
The MOF statement gives no SARA amounts or payment dates. It does not say how recipients are told of their payment, nor how many have been paid so far. There is no hotline number listed. Recipients with a problem should start with the FAQ page on bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.
Questions people ask
When does STR phase four pay new recipients?
New recipients and approved appeals are paid from 16 November 2026. Existing recipients were paid from 4 to 6 November, so that window has passed.
How do I collect STR if I do not have a bank account?
Collect cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branch. Recipients with a bank account receive direct credit into their account.
Is STR the same as SARA?
No. STR is cash aid paid through MOF. SARA is a separate essential-goods credit. Check sara.gov.my ↗ for SARA details; the STR portal does not cover SARA.
How much does a household get under STR phase four?
Households with income of RM5,000 or less receive up to RM500. The MOF statement does not detail income bands below RM5,000. Check your exact amount on bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my ↗.
Source: Malay MailCjRates.my
