IPOH: The Perak government has allocated over RM4.7mil in various financial aid programmes, including living assistance, emergency aid and book vouchers in 2026 to support state-born university students.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the initiatives announced under the 2026 state budget aim to ensure students are able to continue their studies despite rising living costs.
He said living assistance would benefit students pursuing Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes, with payments ranging from RM500 to RM1,000 depending on the level of study.
“Eligible applicants must be full-time students and meet household income and academic requirements set by the state.
“In addition, a student emergency assistance scheme will provide support of up to RM5,000 for those facing unforeseen circumstances such as accidents, serious illness, theft or other hardships, subject to approval on a case-by-case basis,” he told reporters after presenting mock cheques to state education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah on Wednesday (Feb 25).
Saarani said to ease academic expenses, the state has also set aside RM750,000 for Book Voucher Assistance, which would benefit 5,000 students with RM150 each for the purchase of reference materials and textbooks.
He said applications for the living allowance and book vouchers will open from March 2 to April 30, while emergency aid applications will remain open until Oct 31. Submissions can be made online via the official portal.
Saarani said the programmes are coordinated by the state committee overseeing education, higher education, youth and sports, in collaboration with Yayasan Perak, Pusat Aspirasi Anak Perak (Pasak), state Economic Planning Unit and the state Finance Office.
He said the continued implementation of the aid reflects the state’s stable financial position and commitment to providing a social safety net, allowing Perak students to focus fully on their studies and future careers.
