KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — A total of 9.15 million Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients are eligible for benefits under the MySalam B40 National Protection Scheme based on this year’s criteria.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said that since its launch in 2019 until Dec 31, 2025, some 1.88 million individuals have received payouts totalling RM1.42 billion.

With a remaining fund balance of RM490.9 million as of end-2025, the scheme remains well-positioned to continue supporting its target group.

“MySalam has proven effective in easing the healthcare cost burden on the B40 community,” he said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), who had asked about the scheme’s effectiveness in providing critical illness and hospitalisation coverage for the B40 group.

Amir Hamzah said the MySalam scheme has proven its worth in delivering health protection to the B40 group, with usage rates showing a clear upward trajectory.

Nearly 300,000 individuals received benefits last year, with claims totalling RM276 million, up sharply from 190,725 recipients in 2024.

“As of May 2026, an estimated 123,000 recipients have received payouts amounting to RM108 million. These figures show that MySalam continues to be actively used by those who need it most,” he said.

Responding to a supplementary question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on whether the scheme would be extended, Amir Hamzah said the matter is under review, with the remaining fund balance at around RM290 million after mid-year utilisation.

“We are looking into extending MySalam for another year. The government remains fully committed to social protection for affected groups, and we will continue to refine the scheme, just as we have done in previous years,” he said. — Bernama