[ UPDATE 17/1/2023 15:30 ] LHDN has published more details for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR). Here’s how to check if you’re eligible and how to redeem the STR cash aid up to RM300.
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Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), a cash aid program formerly known as Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM), will begin its Phase 1 disbursements to eligible Malaysians starting tomorrow, 17th January 2023. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the government has allocated a total of RM1.67 billion under phase 1 and it will benefit 8.7 million people from the B40 group.
STR Phase 1 to disburse RM1.67 billion in cash aid
According to the breakdown, a total of 4 million households will receive RM300 in cash aid, while both single individuals and senior citizens with no partners will receive RM100 each. The STR cash aid will be credited in stages to the registered bank accounts of eligible recipients. Those who don’t have a bank account can redeem the cash aid at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) starting 17th January 2023.
As shared by the Prime Minister, the Unity Government emphasises a compassionate approach to defending the less fortunate especially the poor and vulnerable. The B40 cash aid programme under the Ministry of Finance is now rebranded to STR and it will be improved over time.
Originally scheduled for March 2023, Anwar said he decided that STR Phase 1 should start this month to ease the burden of the people. The disbursement will be done in stages and this includes STR recipients living in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak. An official STR portal will be available starting tomorrow where individuals can check their payment status and get more info through their FAQ.
Beware of cash aid scams
It is also worth highlighting that scammers will be trying their luck to fool victims by pretending to be authorised agents or individuals handling the cash aid programme. We’ve seen scam messages asking users to login to their bank account or eWallet app to check their cash aid status. These are phishing tactics to trick users into providing their username, passwords and OTP through fake websites.
@MyTouchnGo
— Nora_Z (@SuaraPeribadi) October 27, 2022
Alerting you! #scammeralert #touchngo pic.twitter.com/yPdVMmow7u
Whatever you do, do not click on links received via instant messaging and SMS. If you need to log in to your eWallet or online bank account, always use the official app or open the website’s URL through a web browser.
If you or someone you know gets scammed, do report it to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) by dialling 997 as quickly as possible. If a scam incident is reported within 24 hours, there’s a higher chance for Bank Negara Malaysia to take action to block the outflow and recover the lost funds. Last year, NSRC has helped victims to recover about RM1.4 million.
[ SOURCE, IMAGE SOURCE ]
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