KPT has sufficient mechanisms to help poor students - Idris Jusoh

The Higher Education Ministry (KPT) has sufficient mechanisms to help university students who are facing financial difficulties while pursuing their studies.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said that every public university in this country has specific channels and allocations to help those students.

He said, the report by a group of activists from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) who claimed that 300 packs of food were snapped in just an hour, cannot be used as a benchmark to show indicate their financial woes.

“We do have welfare fund for students, food stamps, zakat and Pay Forward University programmes,” he told reporters after officiating presentation ceremony for a modular science lab at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tengku Mahmud 2, here today.

Idris also said that students can get help from the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA) at their universities to overcome their financial problems.

The Besut MP said the ministry also has the 'pay it forward' programme where financially able students pay in advance for extra food, and the extra food is given to needy students.

He added that part-time job opportunities are also available on campus paying between RM3 to RM10 per hour.