STR and SARA RM600 for singles via WhatsApp: MOF confirms the message is fake

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) denied the message on 21 Jan 2026, a day after Phase 1 payments of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) 2026 cash aid began. This fact check compares the claim with MOF's statement and official documents from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN, also known as HASiL).

MOF statement: the message is fake, there are no applications via WhatsApp

The MOF website carried a Bernama report dated 21 Jan 2026 about the message. According to the report, MOF stressed that the message about STR and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) RM600 applications and payments for singles was fake.

In a post on its official X account, MOF stated that "no applications or payments of STR and SARA aid are made via WhatsApp". MOF also urged the public to avoid suspicious links and not to reveal personal information to strangers. For the latest information, MOF advised referring only to its official channels.

Why the claim is inaccurate

• STR is not applied for via WhatsApp. Applications are made on the Official STR Portal, bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my, or with a form at HASiL offices, HASiL Satellite offices and HASiL Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) counters.
• SARA is not cash. It is cashless credit in your MyKad for buying essential goods at participating merchant shops.
• There is no separate SARA application. SARA eligibility is automatic for approved STR recipients, and there is no specific appeal for SARA.
• The RM600 figure is not a new offer. It is the annual SARA value for STR recipients in the Single category, which is RM50 a month credited to their MyKad.

A correct figure does not make a message genuine. What matters is the channel, because STR and SARA applications and payments are not made via WhatsApp.

Facts about the STR Single category

According to the STR 2026 Leaflet (LHDN), the Single category covers single individuals, or single mothers or fathers, widows, divorcees or widowers without children. They must be aged 21 to 59, or 19 to 59 for persons with disabilities (OKU).

Other conditions are being a citizen living in Malaysia with a gross income of RM2,500 a month or less. They must also not be full-time students at a public or private higher education institution. Since 2026, this category has not received STR cash.

Real aid for this category does exist. According to the same report on the MOF website, monthly SARA was distributed from 9 Jan 2026 to 8.1 million recipients, including 3.1 million recipients in the single category. For 2026, if an STR application is approved after Phase 1, SARA is paid from the month the application is approved.

How to check an aid message before acting

1. Look at the link address. The official STR portal is bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my, and the SARA portal is sara.gov.my. Type the address into your browser yourself.
2. Remember that there is no charge to apply for, update or check STR. LHDN also does not appoint anyone to answer STR questions via WhatsApp or personal phone numbers.
3. Be careful with calls claiming to be from LHDN. LHDN has denied making outgoing calls using the toll-free line 1-800-88-2747.
4. Never give your MyKad number, OTP, password or bank details by message or phone call.
5. Paste suspicious messages into the Fake Aid Message Checker. The check runs on your own device.
6. If you are still unsure, call the official lines: HASiL 1-800-88-2747 for STR, or the MyKasih Foundation 03-7720 1800 for SARA.

Keep in mind that the MyKasih Foundation, the agency that implements SARA, does send SMS or WhatsApp messages to eligible recipients. These messages confirm status and announce orientation sessions at nearby shops; they are not for applying for aid. If in doubt, check your status at sara.gov.my.

What it means for you

• If you are single, aged 21 to 59, with an income of RM2,500 a month or less, apply for STR on the official portal. An application guide is available on the STR 2027 hub.
• SARA is given automatically if your STR application is approved. You do not need to register for SARA through any link.
• If you already receive SARA, check your balance and status at sara.gov.my by typing the address yourself, not through a link in a message.
• If you have already given your bank details or OTP through a message like this, contact your bank and the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) on 997 immediately. Further steps are on the Fake Aid Message Checker page.
• Do not share the message again. To warn your family, share the link to the MOF statement or this fact check.