SHAH ALAM: PerantiSiswa recipients will not have to return the electronic devices they have received after they graduate, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made after an engagement session between the Communications and Multimedia Minister and Student Representative Councils on Aug 15.
The initiative initially required the recipients to return their devices after finishing their studies.
”Today (Sept 3), I am pleased to announce that the Government has agreed to give the devices to all PerantiSiswa recipients for free,” said Ismail Sabri.
“I hope that the students will work harder with the initiative announced by the government,” he said at a speech launching the initiative at Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor UiTM here.
Earlier, Communications and Multimedia minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said all recipients will be given Samsung Galaxy Tablets.
“We have engaged with the students during the process of selecting the devices. The procurement of the devices was also made using an open tender method,” he added.
A total of 519 students consisting of students under the Higher Education Ministry (KPT) in public and private universities, community colleges, polytechnics and arts institutions under the Tourism and Culture Ministry's Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Negara (Aswara) will receive the tablets.
The initiative was also expanded to pre-university institutions under the Education Ministry, namely matriculation programme, Form Six, vocational colleges and Teacher’s Education Institutions (IPG).
The PerantiSiswa package will benefit over 400,000 students from B40 families.
A total of RM450mil had been allocated in Budget 2021 under the PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia to provide higher education students from the B40 group with tablets.
The application for the initiative is still open until the end of this month.
