KUALA LUMPUR: Of the total number of students eligible for the FLYsiswa aid this year, 42.7 per cent, or 22,226 students, are from Sabah, while 36.8 per cent, or 19,171 students, are from Sarawak, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said as of yesterday (Nov 4) a total of 35,183 out of 52,030 eligible students had redeemed their FLYsiswa vouchers.
"For students from Sabah, a total of 17,388 of them are currently studying at public universities, polytechnics, community colleges, matriculation colleges and teacher training institutes in Peninsular Malaysia, along with 3,433 students who are studying in Sarawak and 1,405 in Labuan.
"As for students from Sarawak, 16,027 are studying in Peninsular Malaysia, 2,716 in Sabah, and 428 in Labuan," he said in response to Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna).
Shafie inquired whether the ministry plans to maintain the FLYsiswa initiative as an annual and continuous initiative, as opposed to a one-off or "announcement" initiative.
Loke said the cabinet on Sept 3, agreed to make the FLYsiswa initiative, which was approved under the 2024 Budget, an annual programme under the ministry.
"For 2025, the flight ticket subsidy, including the FLYsiswa initiative and the festive season ticket subsidy, has been included in the 2025 Budget, with an estimated allocation of RM48 million."
The FLYsiswa initiative provides subsidy assistance for flight ticket purchases for students from public universities, polytechnics and community colleges under the Higher Education Ministry, as well as students from matriculation colleges and teacher training institutes under the Education Ministry for domestic flights between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
The subsidy is implemented through a "credit shell" method, where local airlines issue digital vouchers worth RM300 to each eligible student, which can be redeemed for purchasing flight tickets.
Loke said the initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on students who need to return to their hometowns, especially those who have no other transportation options but to board a flight.