Budget 2027 Strengthens University Students’ Welfare - UMT

KUALA NERUS, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has described Budget 2027 as a positive step towards strengthening student welfare through various initiatives covering different aspects of their needs.

UMT vice-chancellor Prof Dr Suriyani Muhamad said the initiatives announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could ease university students’ financial burden, enabling them to focus on their studies, particularly those from low-income groups.

She said the government’s move to expand the Dapur Siswa MADANI programme to polytechnics and teacher education institutes (IPG), with an allocation of RM20 million, was among the key initiatives to safeguard student welfare.

“At UMT, for example, we provide food assistance through the Dapur Siswa MADANI initiative using funds allocated by the MADANI Government to ensure that students in need, particularly those from the B40 group, do not go hungry.

“Such initiatives are important in helping students cope with the rising cost of living, especially expenses for food and daily necessities,” she said in a statement today.

Suriyani said the RM19.1 billion allocation for the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE), along with an additional RM800 million for campus infrastructure, also reflected the government’s commitment to improving the quality of higher education in the country.

She said efforts to expedite student accommodation projects through collaborations with government-linked investment companies (GLICs), including the Vista Kampus project involving a RM750 million investment by the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP), could also help address the shortage of student accommodation.

“The provision of comfortable and affordable accommodation is important to ensure that students enjoy a better campus life without being overly burdened by high rental costs.

“The proposed deferment of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan repayments for borrowers earning up to RM2,500 a month, as well as a minimum repayment of RM50 a month for those earning between RM2,500 and RM3,000, could give fresh graduates more financial breathing room as they embark on their careers,” she said.

-- BERNAMA