KUALA LUMPUR: All universities have been ordered to provide free flight tickets for students in the lower-income category who were studying in other states, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said this was relayed through Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
“I have ordered him to get universities to provide free tickets for B40 students,” he said when winding up debates at the 2026 Umno Annual General Assembly here on Saturday (Sept 12).
He also said the same instructions were given to the Mentri Besar of Melaka, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Perak.
“This is for their students who were studying in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
During debates, Sabah Umno delegate Azuwan Marjan@Norjan said airfares continued to be expensive despite price reductions.
According to him, this was especially felt by parents whose children were studying in public higher education institutions, especially when the new intake begins each September.
“Many complained about this to division chiefs. Some families were forced to delay their children’s education as they were unable to bear the costs,” he said.
He added that this predicament was also felt by Sabahans working in the peninsula whenever they had to attend to family emergencies back home.
