KPT INITIATIVES HELP B40 STUDENTS ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION

NIBONG TEBAL, 12 June 2026 - Students of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), have welcomed the various initiatives introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to ensure that students from low-income families are not deprived of the opportunity to pursue higher education due to financial constraints.

USM Student Parliament Speaker and President of the Student Representative Council (MPP) of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Muhamad Nuraiman Mohd Yusrino, said that education is the most valuable asset in developing a progressive and competitive nation, and therefore access to higher education should be made available fairly to all segments of society.

According to him, the various forms of assistance provided by the government, including registration aid, education financing facilities, scholarships, living allowances, welfare assistance and subsidised residential college accommodation, demonstrate the government's strong commitment to ensuring that higher education remains accessible to all Malaysians.

"No student should be prevented from pursuing their aspirations simply because of financial limitations. Education is the key to improving the quality of life and nurturing a generation capable of contributing to the nation's development," he said.

He noted that the initiatives introduced by MOHE also reflect the government's concern for the challenges faced by students and their families, particularly during the university enrolment process.

He added that assistance such as deferred registration fee payments, transportation support, instalment payment plans, and emergency aid can help ease the financial burden borne by new students and their families.

At the same time, he believes that these efforts are in line with the nation's human capital development agenda, which requires a larger pool of highly skilled workers to meet the demands of various strategic sectors.

According to him, government support for higher education should continue to be strengthened, particularly in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which play a crucial role in producing skilled professionals, driving innovation, and advancing national development.

In addition, he acknowledged the government's emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which provides greater opportunities for young people to acquire industry-relevant skills while enhancing graduate employability.

He said that the combined efforts to strengthen higher education, expand access to TVET and increase participation in STEM fields will help Malaysia produce a more competitive and highly skilled generation capable of supporting the nation's aspiration towards a high-income economy.

He expressed hope that all initiatives implemented by the government will continue to be enhanced and strengthened to ensure that no Malaysian is left behind in accessing higher education opportunities.