A total of 7,095 eligible new students enrolling at public higher education institutions for the September-October intake will receive a one-off RM500 flight assistance, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced.
The aid is intended for students who need to travel by domestic flights between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan to begin their studies.
Anwar announced the initiative during the national-level Malaysia Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night, saying eligible students entering public universities, polytechnics and community colleges would benefit.
“This will benefit 7,095 students who need to use domestic flights between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan to begin their studies,” he said.
He said the assistance was introduced in response to concerns over the cost of air travel faced by students starting their studies.
Anwar added that the initiative had been discussed with Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir before receiving approval.
The flight aid was among several measures announced by Anwar in his Malaysia Day address, including improvements to the Budi Diesel subsidy scheme and a RM1.5 billion interim payment for Sarawak.
He said the measures reflected the government’s responsibility to ensure Malaysians, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, benefited from the country’s development.
Anwar also said Malaysia Day should serve as a reminder of the commitments made when Malaysia was formed in 1963, as well as the need to ensure the country’s opportunities and resources benefit its people.
