JOHOR BARU: Students at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will continue to get assistance from the university to cope with the high cost of living.
Its deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs) Prof Dr Shamsul Sahibuddin said the university had its Food Bank to provide free cooked foods and dry food items for students.
"In fact, we have our own version of the RM5 Menu Rahmah launched by the Unity Government for the hardcore poor on Tuesday (Jan 31)," he said.
Prof Shamsul told reporters after the launch of enVision Moonshot Strategic Plan by UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail on Thursday (Feb 2).
He said the university’s menu was similar to the government’s initiative and the menu includes rice, chicken, meat or fish and vegetables and drinks.
Prof Shamsul said the menu simply known as Menu Pelajar priced at RM3.50 and was launched in March 2020, during the first movement control order at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
"Many of our students, especially those from the lower income group, have benefited from the menu which is still available today," he said.
Prof Shamsul added Menu Pelajar was available at all food outlets in the university at its Skudai campus here.
"Our Charity Cupboards are placed at 10 colleges within the campus and the university’s mosque," he said.
Prof Shamsul said the Menu Pelajar and Charity Cupboard were made available for the students courtesy of donors and well-wishers.
There were about 21,000 students at the Skudai campus while the Semarak campus has 4,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students.
