Govt denies MARA runs out of funds

The government has denied allegations that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has ran out of funds to provide study loans.

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the government has always ensure sufficient funds for MARA to assist potential and eligible Bumiputera students with financial aid.

He was replying to a supplementary question by Senator Tan Sri Prof Dr Ibrahim Shah Abu Shah during question time at Dewan Negara on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Shah alleged the shortage of funds was the factor many Malay students were unable to obtain MARA sponsorship to further their studies recently.

Replying to Ibrahim Shah's original question, Nanta said between 2010 to October this year, MARA had sponsored 125,800 Malay, Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera as well as Orang Asli students for studies in the country.

A total of 15,080 Bumiputera students were sponsored for studies abroad in various fields at diploma, bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctorate and professional levels, he said.