Anwar mulls raising STR aid and rejects claims Malays’ rights are under threat

KULAI, July 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he agreed to increase the amount of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid in the future.

However, he said the matter cannot be announced immediately and urged the public to be patient.

“Yes (on the STR increase), but it cannot be made public now.

“We will help with what we have for the people who have supported the Madani government as there is nothing to be afraid of.

“However, we will not allow people to steal the people’s money. Any (recovered) money will be returned to the people,” he said during his speech at the youth-oriented Kita Genk Madani X Anak Muda Bukit Batu programme at Taman Tropika here today.

Present at the programme was Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching and PH’s Bukit Batu candidate Arthur Chiong Sen Sern.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, reminded the people that they do not need to queue up for the federal government’s cash aid programmes.

He said there were no queues for recipients of either the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) or STR.

Anwar added that there were some people who have the misguided notion that if the government changes, the Malays will cease to exist.

He questioned the notion, saying that he has been the prime minister for the past three years and the Malay community is still around.

Anwar also reminded the public that the federal government, which has been led by Pakatan Harapan (PH) for only three years, are doing their best to correct all the mistakes of the previous government that has administered the country for 65 years.

He said correcting any past mistakes cannot be achieved in two to three years.