KUALA LUMPUR - Phase Four payments of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid, amounting to RM2 billion and originally scheduled for November, will be brought forward and disbursed from Oct 18 in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
When tabling Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar said the government has also approved a 50 per cent toll discount for two days during the festive period.
According to the Education Ministry’s Academic Calendar for the 2025/2026 session, schools nationwide will enjoy an extended break for Deepavali, which falls on Oct 20.
The additional holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday apply to all schools except Sarawak, to allow the school community to celebrate the Festival of Lights with their families.
For Group A states, including Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, the holidays will be on Oct 19 (Sunday) and Oct 21 (Tuesday).
Group B states, namely Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Selangor and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, will observe holidays on Oct 21 (Tuesday) and Oct 22 (Wednesday), while Sarawak will have a one-day holiday on Oct 20 (Monday). - BERNAMA