KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- New public higher education institution (IPTA) students have welcomed the government's one-off RM500 domestic flight ticket assistance announced yesterday, saying it brings significant financial relief to them and their parents.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when making the announcement, said the special assistance for the September and October intakes would benefit 7,095 students travelling between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
For 20-year-old Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang student Nur Shafeira Adrieana Mohd Faizrizey, who is from Labuan, being away from home for the first time presents both personal and financial challenges.
"Airfares to Peninsular Malaysia are quite high and I was worried it would burden my parents. I am grateful for this assistance as I do not have to worry so much about travel expenses," the eldest of three siblings told Bernama.
She added that apart from airfares, students face high initial expenses for accommodation, daily necessities, and learning equipment.
Meanwhile, new Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kota Samarahan (Sarawak) student Nur Marissa Amani Izwar Muzzani, 18, from Selangor, said the initiative helps ease travel expenses for students pursuing studies across states.
"Although this aid does not cover the full travel cost, it gives families room to allocate available funds towards other initial academic necessities," she said.
Another UiTM Kota Samarahan student, Ummu Sofiyyah Ahmad Zahid, 18, from Johor, said that the assistance helps students from lower-income families manage their expenses while facilitating travel from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak.
"I am very grateful for this assistance as it eases the arrangements for new students travelling far for their studies.
"I hope this aid will be continued and expanded in the future to cover other educational costs such as fees, accommodation, and living expenses," she said.
-- BERNAMA