By Nazifa Ramailan
GOMBAK, 30 October 2021: Yayasan Kebajikan Mahasiswa (YKM) has been launched by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Yaakob on Friday as an initiative to assist underprivileged students.
The government has allocated to the tune of RM5 million for the organisation through the Ministry of Finance to ensure the progression of operations as well as the goals of its establishment are achieved.
The Prime Minister said: “YKM will be collaborating with the existing aid channels and foundations in the higher education institutions to facilitate the assistance to be handed over to the students in need.”
“All the agencies and parties involved must expedite the process of applications received from the students so that the assistance can be promptly delivered to them,” he added.
Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri affirmed that the establishment of YKM manifests the government’s concern towards students’ welfare in accordance with the concept of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’.
The launching ceremony was also attended by the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad and Finance Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
According to Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, the Higher Education Ministry always prioritises the welfare and safety of the students. The Ministry, along with Health Ministry and COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) will assist students who have yet to receive vaccinations to be allowed to walk-in to vaccination centres (PPV).
“The distribution of COVID-19 self-test kits for the students is currently being worked on as it is substantial to prevent the virus outbreak at the campus,” she added.
Following the YKM’s establishment, the Prime Minister hopes the management and coordination of student welfare affairs will be more integrated with the involvement from all parties and thus, renders the notion of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’.
The Foundation with the status of an official organisation at the national level was established under Act 258.
The Prime Minister also calls for Student Representative Councils and undergraduates to carry out the responsibilities in assuring none of the underprivileged students are left out.
Before the establishment of YKM, the government has set forth a few assistances to the undergraduates ever since the country was struck by COVID-19 catastrophe including the B40 Data Plan Assistance, which involved an allocation of RM24 million. The initiative is said to have benefited more than 30,000 students.
Additionally, the government also allocated RM13 million for the B40 Device Assistance which aided almost 9,000 students. A moratorium on the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) was also granted by the government and had assisted 1.5 million borrowers.
The most recent one, e-Belia programme, was administered by the government to students between the ages of 18 to 20 years. The initiatives exhibit the consideration of the government in order to lessen the burden of teaching and learning activities of university members.
Describing the students as of the essence entity beside government in determining Malaysia’s future leadership, the Prime Minister hails 1.2 million students in this country to grip the principle of unity and togetherness regardless of race and religion.***
Sources: Bernama and Free Malaysia Today