KUALA LUMPUR: The retargeting of subsidies has enabled the government to improve and increase the cash aid under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) next year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said next year, STR will benefit nine million recipients, or 60 per cent of Malaysian adults.
He said the allocation for the STR will be increased to RM10 billion next year, from RM8 billion.
"The maximum rate for STR will be increased from RM3,100 to RM3,700, and the minimum amount for the youth will also be increased from RM350 to RM500."
He said the first payment for STR for households will increase from RM300 to RM500 next year, with the payment being made before Ramadan.
Anwar said the government has also agreed to expand the existing Sumbangan Asas Rahmah to 700,000 STR recipients who will receive RM100 a month for 12 months.
"STR next year will take a different approach with the new applications being opened as early as November (next month) and will be open throughout the year, unlike the previous once a year.
"InsyaAllah, the first payment up to RM500 will be made in February."
He said the government also will allocate RM200 million to continue with the Payung Rahmah programme.
The Prime Minister said the Rahmah Sales Programme, which offers basic necessities at a price of up to 30 per cent lower, will be extended to more constituencies nationwide.
"Also, the Pasar Rahmah programme, which offers incentives to 1.2 million wholesalers, night market and farmers market traders will be continued."
He said next year, a total of RM58.1 billion has been allocated to finance various forms of government handouts to the people, including subsidies, incentives and assistance.
He said almost half of the allocation was to control the price of goods and services for the benefit of the people.