RM300 airfare subsidy for Sarawak students still on, says assemblyman
KUCHING: The ‘Graduan Pulang Sarawak’ subsidy scheme initiative (iGPS) for Sarawak students studying in higher-learning institutions in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan is still ongoing, says Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
Fazzrudin, who is also Sarawak Volunteers advisor, says these students can still send in their applications for iGPS subsidy, as per its terms and conditions.
He said when the programme was launched last year, the secretariat of Sarawak Volunteers had received over 27,639 applications from Sarawak students studying in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan.
“From the total amount of these applications last year, 19,184 applications have been approved and already received the iGPS subsidy which is RM300 per applicant.
“Another 1,038 applications from last year are still being reviewed as per the iGPS terms and conditions,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He added that the Sarawak government had spent around
RM1 million to subsidise the flight tickets of Sarawakians pursuing tertiary education outside the state.
Fazzrudin said the subsidy meant to reduce the burden of these students upon returning home for festive occasions.
Among the iGPS terms and conditions are that each applicant is entitled to RM300 subsidy; applicants have to be aged 18 and above when flying at the stipulated date; applicant must be a full-time student at any higher-learning institution in Malaysia registered with the Education Ministry; and that applications have be made online at yayasansarawak.org.my.
More details on iGPS are available on Sarawak Volunteers’ Facebook page.