Kuala lumpur: The government will provide free National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) education to 5,800 students from low-income families pursuing studies at public universities starting next year, announced Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This initiative is part of the government's broader effort to make higher education more accessible to underprivileged communities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the program involves an annual allocation of RM120 million aimed at households earning below RM2,705. Anwar emphasized that PTPTN was established to lift children out of poverty through education, marking a significant step forward in educational support that the government aims to expand further in line with the nation's financial capacity.
The government has also decided to exempt PTPTN loan repayments for students from low- and middle-income families who achieve first-class honours degrees from public universities. This exemption is expected to benefit around 6,000 borrowers, involving RM90 million annually.
Prime Minister Anwar also announced travel restrictions for borrowers who are financially able and working abroad but refuse to repay their loans. In a move to increase access to higher education, the government plans to create 1,500 new undergraduate places in 10 fields of study across five research universities, including disciplines such as law, accounting, economics, and artificial intelligence.
To bolster the medical field, Anwar revealed that two public-private partnership projects, the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Health Technopolis and Universiti Malaya Health Metropolis, will be implemented. These projects include the development of a hospital in Petaling Jaya in collaboration with the Selangor government.
Further, endowment funds for public university teaching hospitals have been approved, with all donations eligible for income tax deductions, and contributions and income generated from these funds will be tax-exempt.
In the aeronautics sector, RM16 million has been allocated to Universiti Malaysia Perlis to develop the country's first Air Space Sandbox, a vital facility for logistics and security applications. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia will also establish its own airfield to support the maritime aviation industry and train local amphibious pilots.
To aid underprivileged youth, government-linked companies and investment companies have allocated RM4.4 billion for scholarships, loans, and allowances. The private sector will benefit from double tax deductions for scholarship expenses for qualified students in various professional fields.
The Ikhtiar Dapur MADANI initiative by the Higher Education Ministry has been allocated RM26 million to provide students with cooking equipment and ingredients. The Dapur MADANI programme will also include food aid for underprivileged students through corporate social responsibility contributions.
Lastly, the MySiswa Job On Campus programme will receive an allocation of RM20 million to offer part-time job opportunities, helping students earn income and develop entrepreneurial skills. Additionally, the Employees Provident Fund and Universiti Malaya will collaborate to pilot a project for building 1,000 residential units on campus to address student accommodation shortages.