Youths gain from initiatives
THE initiatives and assistance rendered by the Perikatan National government via stimulus packages to the youth group have helped to cushion the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Universiti Putra Malaysia student Marcella Lizbeth Marcel, 23, said the RM200 one-off assistance, under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus (Prihatin), was a great help to students like her.
“I never expected that there would be monetary assistance for varsity students during this challenging period. I’m glad and thankful that students were also included in the stimulus package.
“It has been a challenging year for Malaysians, and students too. We are certainly thankful to the government for the handout.”
Marcella said she used the money for her special project during her practical training last year.
The aid, with an allocation of RM300 million, was given to students at all tertiary levels including matriculation, community colleges, polytechnics, as well as public and private higher education institutions.
Marcella said she hoped the government would consider another round of cash handouts for students.
“As students have returned to their campuses, those in their final year doing their thesis or those undergoing internship will need cash. It will be great if there is additional financial assistance.”
Another varsity student Edna Elliena Dominic, 26, was in her final year of her diploma when she received the one-off aid last year.
She used the money on necessities while at the campus, as well as for the fare to go back to her hometown.
She also received free Internet services which were provided since April last year, in addition to her existing data subscription package.
The 1GB free Internet data had helped her and others cope with online classes during the pandemic.
Edna, however, is hoping for unlimited Internet data for online classes, especially for applications such as Webex, Google Meet, and Zoom.
The free Internet data programme has been extended until the end of this month under the Economic and Rakyat’s Protection Assistance Package (Permai).
Universiti Teknologi Mara student Muhammad Fuad Mohd Nizam, 23, said he spent the money on tech supplies to ease his open and distance learning (ODL).
“It has been a different experience for the students, as we had to embrace online learning due to the pandemic.
“However, ODL is now relevant as large student movements in returning to campus could spawn new clusters.”
Final-year journalism student Qistina Atikah Mohammad Sallehuddin, said she used the money to upgrade her mobile data plan to enjoy uninterrupted Internet access for her online classes.
“Since the Movement Control Order began, my classes resumed online but my Internet connection at home was not conducive for online classes. I was able to opt for a better Internet plan because of the cash aid.
“Otherwise, it would have been frustrating to see the screen buffering during a lecture.”
In the recently announced Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (Pemerkasa), Marcella, Edna, Fuad and Qistina are set to get another RM150 that will be credited into their e-wallet account.
The initiative, under the eBelia programme, aims to promote cashless transactions among youths.
The programme was initially introduced in the 2021 Budget, with each youth able to redeem a RM50 e-wallet. The amount was further increased to RM150 per youth under the Pemerkasa plan.
A total of two million youths are expected to benefit from the programme, which will be implemented in June, with an allocation of RM300 million.
There are also several other initiatives to support youths. They include an additional allocation of RM10 million to expand the Pemerkasaan Ekonomi Komuniti Bandar programme, bringing the total allocation for this year to RM21 million.
The programme encourages the participation of youths in urban areas in entrepreneurial projects.
Some 1,800 participants will benefit from entrepreneurship training and equipment, which will be provided free for them.
At the same time, the New Gen Entrepreneur Online Bootcamp programme (N-GENE) will be introduced for preparatory training and online business coaching for some 2,000 youth entrepreneurs.
The Pemerkasa-Belia micro-credit financing scheme under Bank Simpanan
Nasional (BSN), which offers financing of up to RM50,000, will enable youths to venture into business.
For Muhammad Firdaus Ismail, 23, the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic had turned his hobby of collecting fighting fish into a serious business.
He now breeds fighting fish of various species and colours, with each fish priced from as low as RM10.
Firdaus said he is planning to apply for the Tunas Usahawan Belia Bumiputera (Tube) programme.
“A friend of mine told me about the programme, in which participants will be given exposure to various aspects of doing business.
“There are so many things that I need to learn, from managing the business to marketing my fighting fish. The programme would be a great help to me,” said Firdaus.
Under Pemerkasa, the Tube programme will be given an additional allocation to produce some 250 new Bumiputera entrepreneurs.