Budget 2022 : B40 IPT students to receive free tablets

The higher learning institutions (IPT) students from B40 families will receive a free tablet through the PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia initiative, said Finance Minister, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz when tabling the Budget 2022.

For this purpose, he said, the government will provide an allocation of RM450 million in addition to the commitment of telecommunication companies that will contribute around RM65 million.

“To ensure that the study process of B40 students continues to be preserved, the government in collaboration with selected telecommunication companies will implement the PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia initiative to supply a tablet to every B40 student in institutions of higher learning.

“Throughout the pandemic period, students continued their studies in the new norm. For underprivileged students, they sometimes have to borrow a friend’s device, or have to go to an internet center in town, to do the homework.

“In fact, sometimes there are also those who are unable to attend online lectures,” he said, today.

Earlier, Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul unveiled Budget 2022 that will see the biggest allocation of RM332.1 billion compared to previous budgets.

In the budget allocation, he said, the government intends to provide RM233.5 billion for operating expenditure, RM75.6 billion for development expenditure and RM23 billion for the COVID-19 Fund.

A total of RM2 billion is also provided as contingency savings, he further noted.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education will continue to receive the largest allocation of RM52.6 billion or 16 per cent of the total budget and the Ministry of Higher Education will receive a total of RM14.5 billion.

At the same time, Budget 2022 also ensures that the Bumiputera empowerment agenda continues to be given priority in an effort to bridge the racial gap in the country, said Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul.

Therefore, a total of RM11.4 billion is allocated to implement various Bumiputera initiatives and of that amount, RM6.6 billion will be provided for educational facilities for Bumiputera students, among others under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Yayasan Peneraju.