RM12.2 million in food aid for uni students in hostels

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has allocated RM12.2 million in food aid to 74,530 university students who are staying at their hostels during the Movement Control Order (MCO), said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the government will fully bear the food expenses of the students who did not "balik kampung".

Ismail, who is also defence minister, said those benefitting were students from the public universities, private higher educational institutions, community colleges, teacher training institutes and in matriculation colleges.

He said the universities’ management has full authority on how to use the allocation.

“Whether they want give out coupons to the students or cook the food for students, it’s all up to them,” he said at a press conference which was telecast live on RTM after a special meeting with ministers on the implementation of MCO.

He also guaranteed that food and other essential items were sufficient during the 14-day MCO.

On a separate issue, he said to ensure a smooth journey for those who are in the essential services, he urged employers to issue a supporting document to workers.

“The secretary-general of each ministry will be facilitating this for the civil servants. I hope the private sector will also do their part as we know of cases where workers were instructed to turn back at roadblocks because they did not have supporting documents.

“We also hope employers can give a list of their employees to the nearest police station so that they are not stopped at roadblocks… we are aware that some may need to cross the state border or district border to go to work, for example from Seremban or Shah Alam to Putrajaya, hence, cooperation is needed,” he said.

Covid-19

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