KUCHING: Sarawakian students in higher learning institutions in Malaysia will receive RM1,200 in pocket money next year from the state government, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Premier said this special financial assistance will be introduced under the 2025 state budget to benefit 25,000 students from lower-income families with a monthly household income of RM1,500 or below.
"The money given is to be spent on food and essential goods to help them mitigate the cost of living," he said when tabling the state budget in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Monday (Nov 11), adding that RM30mil would be allocated for the purpose.
Abang Johari also said the state government would continue the book voucher and free laptop initiatives introduced in August this year for Sarawakian students from families with a monthly household income of RM1,500 and below.
He said RM2mil would be allocated for book vouchers of RM500 per student and RM30.5mil to provide free laptops to 10,166 eligible students enrolled in public and private institutions.
"This assistance will empower our students with the essential technology they need to excel in their academic pursuits," he said.
Abang Johari also announced the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) initiative to provide financial assistance of RM250 to RM800 annually to low-income Sarawakians residing in the state.
He said RM450mil would be allocated for the initiative next year to benefit 850,000 recipients.
Under this initiative, households with an income of RM5,000 and below will receive RM800, senior citizens without spouses or children and an income of RM5,000 and below will receive RM400 and single individuals with an income of RM2,500 and below will receive RM250.
"This assistance will help them purchase basic food items such as rice, flour and cooking oil.
"With this assistance, I may say that everyone will have food on their table," Abang Johari said.
In addition, the Premier said the Sarawak civil service has adopted a new salary scheme in line with the Federal Government's civil service reforms, incurring RM67mil in next year's budget.
He said the state government would augment this initiative with a special allowance for state civil service employees, with an initial financial impact of RM102mil next year.
"In line with this reform, we will be introducing an enhanced management performance system for the Sarawak civil service towards creating a results-driven and world-class civil service," he said.
