SHAH ALAM: All 400,000 recipients of the Keluarga Malaysia Peranti Siswa tablets will get to keep their device for free.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative here today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government decided on this to recognise the hard work as well as motivate the recipients to study hard and obtain excellent scores in their exams.
"Therefore, there is no need for the students to receive the tablets in the form of a 'loan' and return the device (after they have completed their studies)," said Ismail Sabri in his speech.
Also present were Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad.
Also in attendance were 450 students who are among the thousands of recipients under the first round of the initiative.
It was previously reported that recipients under the initiative will get a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 LTE tablet.
The initiative is aimed at assisting students from the B40 families at public and private institutions of higher learning (IPTA), polytechnics and community colleges under the Higher Education Ministry.
The initiative was later expanded to students in four other categories — those in Education Ministry matriculation programmes, foundation courses at public universities, Form Six students in the first and second semesters and Vocational Colleges diploma students.
At the same event, Ismail Sabri also announced that the government had decided to extend indefinitely the Keluarga Malaysia Teens affordable Internet package, which was supposed to end next month.
"The affordable pre-paid package tailored for teens and students including post-graduate students was introduced in October last year.
"We hope more youth and students will be able to subscribe to the package following this decision," he said.
He also announced that the government would also expand the Jualan Keluarga Malaysia Programme to more higher education institutions.
This, he said, was to protect and look after the welfare of the students.
"The extension of this programme will also help to ease the burden of students against inflation."