TUARAN: June 17, 2026 – The Sabah government has allocated RM339.16 million for the People’s Touch of Kindness Programme (SYUKUR) this year, expanding the number of recipients to 140,000, up from 100,000 last year.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the SYUKUR aid had been restructured to a rate of RM200 per month, serving as a complement to federal government initiatives including the Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) and the Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA).
He said the restructuring enables more Sabahans to receive targeted financial assistance.
“The restructuring of the SYUKUR programme allows the number of recipients to be expanded from 100,000 last year to 140,000 this year. This ensures more Sabahans benefit from this government aid,” he said at the launch of the Tuaran District SYUKUR Outreach Programme at Dewan Seri Sulaman on Tuesday.
Hajiji said SYUKUR aid is disbursed in phases, with each recipient receiving RM600 upfront for a three-month period, credited directly to their accounts.
He said Phase 1 payments began being channelled to eligible recipients on 11 March, while Phase 2 online payments started being credited to recipients’ accounts from 23 May.
“I am pleased to announce that the first cash distribution for SYUKUR Phase 2 will be open from 18 to 23 June 2026 for eligible recipients across the state, involving 17,848 recipients,” he said. “This payment involves a one-off assistance of RM600 for the period of April to June 2026.”
The Chief Minister also said Sabah had successfully achieved zero hardcore poor Heads of Households (KIR) from the figure recorded in January 2025, which stood at 10,825 KIR.
According to eKasih data as of 31 May 2026, the number of hardcore poor KIR recorded in January this year had been reduced by 100 per cent as a result of various integrated intervention measures implemented by the state and federal governments.
He said a data-driven approach, the coordination of aid through the Sabah State Database (PADANS) and eKasih, alongside targeted assistance delivery, had brought significant changes to the target groups.
However, he said the state government would continue to strengthen its poverty-eradication efforts, as there are still 57,710 KIR in the poor category as of 31 May 2026, compared with 70,298 KIR in January this year – a decline of 17.9 per cent over four months.
“This achievement is not the end of our struggle. The state government is aware that there are still people in need of attention and assistance,” he said.
At the event, Hajiji also presented cash aid of RM600 to 50 recipients of the SYUKUR programme.
Also present were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, and the Chief Coordinator Officer of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat, Datuk (Datu) Rosmadi Datu Sulai.
