Ministry of Higher Education Distributes RM24 Million for B40 Students’ Internet Data Plan

PUTRAJAYA - RM24 million for internet data plan assistance will be allocated to 320,396 students from the B40 category in light of the online educational delivery following the pandemic, announced the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT).

This decision was to ensure that students receive maximum conductive experience while studying online.

Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad

In collaboration with telecommunication companies, YTL Foundation and Lembaga Tabung Haji, Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad revealed that 225,784 SIM cards have been distributed to the students while the remaining 94,612 students will receive cash for the purpose of purchasing data plans.

In addition, 5,965 students would be receiving free laptops, 2,700 students would receive cash assistance for the same purpose while 300 others would be getting financial loan assistance to own a laptop at a special price.

Noraini also shared that to enable the students to continue online PdP, a crowdfunding initiative was launched through Tabung Prihatin Siswa. This is an initiative introduced by the ministry in collaboration with Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS).

The ministry’s device aid scheme would see 8,965 targeted B40 students in public universities receiving either free or loaned laptops, or cash or vouchers to purchase such devices to use for their PdP.