RM5mil aid to 5,263 Sabahan students
Published on: Thursday, April 26, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government on Wednesday distributed RM5 million worth of special education grants to 5,263 Sabahan students studying in 108 higher learning institutions across the country. The special education aid was inspired by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, who announced the allocation when he tabled the State Budget 2018 in the State Assembly on Nov 17, last year.Of the RM5 million, a total of RM3,974,800 is channelled to 4,184 students from 18 higher learning institutions in Sabah and the remaining RM1,025,200 to 1,079 students from Sabah studying in 90 higher learning institutions in Sarawak and the peninsula.
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The top five institutions with the highest numbers of recipients are Universiti Malaysia Sabah (1,668), Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic (563), Kota Kinabalu UiTM (411), Kolej Teknikal Yayasan Sabah (265) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (246).The recipients, who will be receiving one-off payment of RM950, will be able to withdraw the money from their respective bank accounts beginning today (Thursday). A total of 6,818 applications were received from the 108 higher learning institutions across the country. However, after screening, only 5,263 qualified for the special grant.
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Selection was done based on certain criteria set in December last year. Among them is applicants must be Malaysian from Sabah, both or one parent must be Sabahan, no sponsorship from any quarters, household income not exceeding RM2,000 a month, age must not exceed 30 and undergoing full time diploma or degree studies.Priority is given to Sabahans from the interior.
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The special grants were handed out during the Majlis Penyerahan Bantuan Khas Kewangan Pelajar Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Anak-Anak Sabah officiated by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, on behalf of Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, at UMS, here, Wednesday. Masidi, who is Minister in charge of education in the State, said the special education grants showed the State Government managed its finance properly. "Despite numerous claims by the opposition about corruption, the State Government's financial status, if I may say, is the best in the country. "This shows how hard and sincere we are to provide the best services. Today our cash reserve is not less than RM3 billion, which shows our good financial management," he said. "The assistance you receive also shows the development in our State. With more funds, last year our chief minister as Finance Minister allocated special funds amounting to RM115 million for various development endeavours which include tourism," he added.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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