IPOH: The RM100 Buku Madani voucher for secondary school and higher education students is expected to be rolled out nationwide in July, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.
He said the programme would benefit 2,087,143 students on a RM210mil allocation.
“Every student from Form One onwards under the Education Ministry, including those in Form Six, matriculation colleges and Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG), will receive RM100 each.
“The vouchers will be distributed digitally through an online platform managed by Perbadanan Kota Buku under the ministry,” he told reporters after opening SMJK Ave Maria Convent’s 69th Academic Excellence Awards ceremony here on Friday (June 12).
Wong said the digital system would ensure greater transparency and accountability in the use of the allocation.
“We hope the voucher initiative will encourage reading and help students continue expanding their knowledge through learning.
“This system ensures full transparency and that all allocations are used to purchase books. It also allows us to ensure there is no leakage,” he said.
Wong said there had previously been complaints that recipients were selling physical book vouchers at discounted prices for cash rather than using them to buy books.
“We do not want that to happen again. That is why the ministry introduced the digital and online system in 2024.
“The advantage is that students not only in urban areas, but also those in rural and remote areas, can easily purchase books and have them delivered directly to them,” he added.
During the event, Wong also presented the school with an allocation of RM50,000 for upgrading works, with the projects to be determined by the pupils.
