KUALA LUMPUR: Every higher education student from B40 families will receive a tablet under the Peranti Siswa Keluarga Malaysia initiative.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the government has collaborated with selected telecommunications companies to implement the public initiative.
"The government will provide an allocation of RM450 million in addition to telecommunication companies' commitment to contribute about RM65 million.
"Insya-Allah, a total of 600,000 students from B40 families will benefit from this initiative," he told the Dewan Rakyat here today, in tabling the 2022 Budget.
Tengku Zafrul said the government also proposed to extend the special tax exemption for individuals with income up to RM2,500 for purchases of mobile phones, computers and tablets until Dec 31, 2022.
On National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), Tengku Zafrul said the government will be offering discounts for loan repayment from Nov 1 to April 30 next year.
"The government has agreed to provide discounts namely; 15 per cent discount on the balance of the debt for full settlement loans; 12 per cent discount for the minimum payment of 50 percent of the remaining debt in one payment; and 10 per cent discount for repayment through salary deduction or scheduled direct debit payment," he announced.
Tengku Zafrul said the government has also allocated RM6.6 million for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to implement various initiatives under the related ministries and agencies.
"The focus is on meeting the needs of the current industry. Therefore, an additional allocation of RM200 million is provided for joint venture programs with industries including the National Dual Training Scheme and industrial certification programmes," he said.