KUCHING: A total of 857,814 Sarawakians will receive assistance under the Sarawak Basic Necessities Contribution (SKAS) 2026 programme, based on Phase 1 recipient data for the ‘Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah’ (STR).
Of the total eligible recipients, 395,802 are from the household category, 335,591 are single individuals, while 126,421 are senior citizens without spouses.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government has increased the allocation for SKAS this year to RM640 million, up from RM480.2 million last year.
He said the initiative was introduced to ensure every household in the state has access to basic necessities.
“As you know, we launched this programme last year. Besides the assistance provided by the federal government, I believe we should also have our own scheme.
“The principle is that we want every family, at the very least, to have food in their kitchen. Basic food items such as rice, sugar, coffee and other necessities must always be available in every household.
“Therefore, we launched this assistance so that our people will at least have a supply of rice for three months.
“This ensures that our people do not have to struggle to buy rice, belacan and other basic goods, because these items are paid for by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to help you,” he said.
He said this in his speech during the launching of SKAS 2026 at Ramadan Bazaar Stutong here on today.
He said under the enhanced scheme, households will receive RM950, up from RM800 previously, while senior citizens without spouses will receive RM500, an increase from RM400.
“Meanwhile, single individuals will receive RM300, compared to RM250 previously,” he said.
Abang Johari said the assistance will be distributed in three phases, beginning with the first distribution ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“The second distribution will be on May 25, before the Gawai Dayak celebration, while the third distribution will take place in November, when families usually require additional financial support as children prepare to return to school,” he said.
Recipients can use the assistance through the SPay Global application to purchase essential goods from 2,249 participating supermarkets and shops across Sarawak.
Abang Johari expressed confidence that Sarawak’s financial position would continue to strengthen in the coming years.
“For next year, we will review the situation. But I am confident that the financial position of our state will become even stronger, God-willing. As long as GPS governs, it will remain strong because our revenue continues to increase.
“If others govern, I do not know. But GPS, God-willing, knows how to manage both expenditure and income, and how to increase state revenue. So far, everything is going well.
“I still have new ideas to further increase revenue, but I will not reveal them today. As long as you continue to give us the mandate, we have new ways to develop Sarawak further,” said Abang Johari.
