AID for students abroad
PUTRAJAYA: The government is prepared to offer assistance to self-financing Malaysian students affected by the weak ringgit. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said his ministry has instructed Education Malaysia offices worldwide to offer assistance to such students who are in a predicament following the depreciation of the ringgit.
“I understand the impact of the economic situation on the selffinancing students and I sympathise with them,” he said in a post on his Facebook account.
I dri s sa i d, however, t hat government-sponsored students would be unaffected by the exchange rate because they receive their allowances in US dollars or pound sterling.
“The sponsorship the students receive depends on their needs and does not change according to the exchange rate,” he said, adding the government was absorbing the rising cost of sponsoring them abroad.
“This is the responsibility of the government as the sponsor,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Terengganu Foundation is providing an additional allocation of RM12.5 million this year for 45 sponsored students abroad.
Terengganu state Education, Science, Technology and Special Functions Committee chairman Ghazali Taib said the additional funds will go towards aiding students sponsored by the foundation in Jordan, Indonesia and the United
Kingdom. Speaking to reporters after the distribution of aid to overseas students here yesterday, he said the foundation allocates almost RM50 million annually for the education of about 650 Terengganu students abroad.
Ghazali said, however, the state government will stop sponsoring students going to Russia from next year, and also reduce the number of sponsored students going to several other countries.
Last week, the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, initiated a programme called the Zarith Sofiah Initiative for Educational Financial Assistance to help such students.
The programme aims to provide financial assistance to students studying abroad, specifically in the US and UK in the wake of the depreciating ringgit.
The funding also provides additional assistance for students’ living expenses towards the end of the month and in times of dire need.
Those who are interested can download a copy of the application form from the Zarith Sofiah Foundation official Facebook page. Raja Zarith Sofiah, an Oxford graduate, had earlier expressed concern in her Facebook for the plight of local students in UK.
“How much can their parents and families afford to send them ... I am here in the UK for a holiday, but am lucky because I can afford the luxuries here.
“To the Malaysians who are studying in the UK, please let me know how I can help. Is there a student body which can assist students who need financial help?” she asked.