KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — The Siswa Sulung programme is not limited to students from B40 families; the less fortunate M40 group can also benefit from the programme, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said the programme for the first child of underserved families who successfully earn a place for their tertiary studies at public universities has helped 1,934 students.
“Large M40 (households) of seven to eight people can seek assistance from (Siswa Sulung).
“For the first child to enter university from a poor family, we will give them an exemption, which includes an exemption from tuition fees and accommodation until they finish their studies,” he said during an oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from S. Kesavan (PH-Sungai Siput) on whether the ministry planned to extend the tuition fee exemption to students from M40 families who were affected by the increase in the cost of living.
Zambry said various other initiatives had also been introduced to help university students from poor families including M40, including an assistance of RM1,000 for their expenses in the period before receiving funding from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation.
He said more than 300 students facing financial problems at university received assistance for the 2024/2025 academic session.
— Bernama
