M'sians who travel to S'pore 8 times a month may not qualify for govt financial aid

Malaysians who travel to and from Singapore eight or more times a month would be considered to be working abroad, according to Malaysia's deputy finance minister Liew Chin Tong.

Such commuters might not get immediate approval if they apply for Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR), a quarterly financial aid initiative by the Malaysian government for low-income groups.

For Malaysians

People in Johor Bahru have asked whether frequent commuters to Singapore would be entitled to the aid, Liew shared on Facebook on Jan. 25.

He explained in his post that the STR is a programme designed specially for Malaysian citizens.

In addition, one of the eligibility criteria is that the Malaysian has to be living in Malaysia.

"To ensure that only those who truly qualify receive STR assistance, checks are conducted using comprehensive data integration across various agencies, including immigration," he said.

Working abroad

Liew broke down how how the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (IRB), which manages distribution of the STR aid, differentiated between temporary trips and living or working abroad.

"One to seven times per month is considered normal and reasonable for activities, such as medical treatment, emergencies, short-term assignments or family matters," he said.

"Eight times or more per month is interpreted as spending a significant period abroad," assuming the individual commutes every week, he added.

Money disbursed to 5 million people

This approach to eligibility ensures the cash aid is distributed fairly and reaches those who are genuinely in need.

Payments for the first phase of the STR in 2026 were disbursed on Jan. 20, benefiting five million recipients, Malay Mail reported.

Each recipient would receive between RM100 (S$32) and RM500 (S$160), depending on their eligibility, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

Can still appeal

Nonetheless, such frequent commuters would not be barred from the aid.

Their applications might get marked "Not Approved", for the same reason an applicant might not receive approval if they or their spouse is found to be residing, working, or studying abroad.

Liew noted that some Malaysians need to frequently enter and leave Singapore, for instance those who work as drivers for Malaysian logistics companies.

Malaysians who wish to apply for the aid but are affected by this ruling were encouraged to submit appeals, and the government will be open to considering them.

Top images from Liew Chin Tong's Facebook and 熊熊/Facebook