KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday (Jan 16) announced that the payment of phase one of “Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah” (STR) to 8.7 million people in the B40 group, worth RM1.67 billion, will be credited into the accounts of the registered recipients in stages from Tuesday (Jan 17).

He said the payment of STR phase one has been brought forward to January from the initial plan in March, to ease the people’s costs of living burden.

The STR payment is made according to categories with four million households receiving RM300 each, while 1.2 million senior citizens without spouses and 3.5 million single individuals would each receive RM100.

“STR recipients in rural areas including Sabah and Sarawak, with or without bank accounts, will also receive this payment on the same date,” said the prime minister in a statement on Monday.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said that recipients who do not have a bank account can cash the payment out at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches beginning Tuesday.

Recipients can check their status from Tuesday and further information regarding the payment is available at the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of STR’s official portal.

Meanwhile, Anwar said that the STR is a rebranding of the cash aid programme for the B40 income group under the finance ministry, and it will continue to be improved.

He said the unity government emphasises the “rahmah” (compassion) approach in looking after the plight of the needy, especially the vulnerable groups.

As such, the prime minister said the government introduced the “Payung Rahmah” concept as a parent to initiatives, to help the groups face the costs of living challenges.