Education aid, funding for crash victims’ kids

PETALING JAYA: The families of all 10 victims involved in the naval helicopter collision in Lumut, Perak, on Tuesday will get assistance from the Higher Education Ministry.

It said the assistance is aimed at alleviating the burden faced by the victims’ families.

This will be done in collaboration with various agencies under its purview, including Yayasan Perkasa Siswa, the National Higher Education Fund Corporation, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Education Malaysia Global Services, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Holdings.

The initiatives include RM1,000 in the National Education Savings Scheme account (SSPN-i) for each of the 21 children of the victims who are still in school.

Additionally, the ministry has also undertaken to fully fund Nurul Shahfiqah Mohd Shahrizan’s tuition fees until she completes her entrepreneurship programme at UMK, under the Initial Programme 2.0.

Nurul Shahfiqah is the child of Warrant Officer II Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi, one of the victims of the crash.

“Cash donations will be distributed to the offspring of each of the 10 families involved.

“The ministry is prepared to provide any necessary assistance and support to the victims’ offspring, especially in their pursuit of higher education in the country.

“The ministry also expresses deep sorrow and extends its condolences to the families of the 10 navy officers following the tragic crash of two helicopters in Lumut,” it said in a statement yesterday.