KUALA LUMPUR: The effectiveness of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) should not be measured solely by the amount of assistance received, but by how effectively the two schemes work together to ease the financial burden on households.

Economist Professor Emeritus Dr Barjoyai Bardai of the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) said the increase in the combined allocation for STR and SARA to RM16 billion next year should be assessed based on the overall benefits to recipients, including how well the assistance meets their basic needs and improves their purchasing power.

He said this approach would provide a clearer picture of how effective the government's efforts were in helping Malaysians cope with rising living costs.