ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 75,000 Johorean tertiary students will receive the 'Kad Siswa Johor' starting this month, aimed at helping them cope with the rising cost of living.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the card will offer special discounts on daily essentials and leisure activities to students from public universities, Kolej Yayasan Pelajaran Johor, community colleges, and polytechnics.
He added that the state government is in discussions to extend this benefit to Form 6 and Form 5 students in the future.
"This is a significant initiative introduced by Yayasan Pelajaran Johor (YPJ), and I hope it will help our students achieve better academic results. As of today, the state government, through YPJ, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ten private companies to offer food, books, and services at discounted prices to cardholders," he said.
He said this when met by reporters after witnessing the MoU signing ceremony between YPJ and the ten private companies at his office in Kota Iskandar on Wednesday (Sept 18).
Onn Hafiz also revealed that YPJ is planning to expand the card's benefits to include discounts on public transport within the state.
Distribution of the cards will begin on Sept 20 in Kluang, with the official launch ceremony set for October this year.
Meanwhile, Johor Education and Information Committee Chairman Aznan Tamin shared that 25,297 students will also receive a one-off aid of RM500 through the card under the YPJ Registration Aid Scheme (SBP).
The ten private sectors that signed the MoU are Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, QSR Brands (M) Holding Bhd, Daily Fresh International Sdn Bhd, Al-Ikhlas Gadget, Woodfire Burger (M) Sdn Bhd, Farm Fresh Berhad, Badan Cemerlang Sdn Bhd, Legoland Malaysia, and Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd.
More to come.