SERDANG: More than 60,000 students in higher education institutions will be eligible for the positively-received FLYSiswa programme this year with the programme being expanded to more institutions, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the programme will be expanded to students from the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara), government-linked universities (GLU), and State-Owned Higher Education Institutions (IPTN).
Trainees under the Manpower Department Training Institution (ILJTM) will now also be eligible for FLYSiswa 2026, increasing the number of eligible students this year by 6,278.
Students from public higher learning institutions (IPTA), polytechnics and community colleges, as well as Matriculation and Teacher Education Institutes (IPG) will also continue to be eligible in this year's programme.
“This approach is a progressive step that will ensure equity and inclusivity, while supporting the public education sector.
“Further details on the programme will be announced in the near future,” he said in a speech during the FLYSiswa 2026 launch ceremony at Universiti Putra Malaysia here on Tuesday (Jan 13).
Under FLYSiswa, eligible students receive a digital voucher worth RM400 in the form of a credit shell.
This voucher can then be used to purchase economy class airline tickets, either one or two-way, from local airlines including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, AirAsia, Batik Air and Air Borneo.
In a seperate press release, the Ministry also revealed that phase 1 of FLYSiswa 2026 had already begun distribution as of Jan 1 this year, for existing eligible and newly registered students up to Sep 30 last year.
Phase 2 will see vouchers distributed in March 2026, for newly registered students from Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, Phase 3 will be for newly registered students from Jan 1 to March 31, 2026 and begin distribution later this year in July.
Loke said FLYSiswa’s expansion is to coincide with the expected increasing importance of the programme in reducing financial burden of local students who wish to travel back to their hometowns.
To this, he revealed that FLYSiswa 2025 saw a major spike in both eligible registered students and those who claimed the voucher compared to the previous year.
“2025 saw eligible students increase to 56,450 and claimed vouchers to 44,741 (79.26%), compared to only 37,498 (72.04%) claimed vouchers out of 52,055 eligible students in 2024.
“This is why the programme has been expanded as the government remains committed and attentive in listening to the voices of the people regarding current issues,” he added.
Also attending the ceremony was Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
