Leg up: Under Budget 2025, GLICs and GLCs will commit at least 50% of scholarships to deserving students.
MORE students from the lower- and middle-income groups will get to continue their studies at the tertiary level – thanks to the extra 50% of scholarships to be allotted by government-linked companies (GLCs) for deserving students.
University student Mun How Jack, 24, said the move promotes inclusivity and equal access to quality education, helping to reduce the gap between people from different economic groups.
“It is a good move. It encourages the GLCs to actively participate in corporate social responsibility efforts by giving more opportunities to students who would otherwise struggle to finance their education,” he said.
Mun added that student welfare issues, such as living conditions, should also be looked into.
The move to make government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and GLCs commit at least 50% of scholarships for deserving students was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of the 2025 Budget at Parliament yesterday.
Other things announced by Anwar included a fee hike for the top 15% income group in fully residential schools and public institutions of higher education.
Undergraduate K. Amos Divyen, 25, meanwhile agreed with the fee hike for the T15 group, noting that the increment would benefit other students from lower-income groups.
“I think it is fair. Wealthier families might be able to bear the increased fees, while those from lower-income groups can continue to benefit from the subsidies and support,” he said.
Meanwhile, housewife Looi Lee Phing, whose two sons are studying at public universities, said the fee hike would add to her household’s financial burden.
“My sole breadwinner husband is a senior manager and earns about RM12,000 a month.
“On paper, we are deemed as a T20 (category) but after deducting all our expenses, we are not really left with much,” she said.
“We cannot afford private colleges, which is why we decided to opt for public universities.
“We are not entitled to anything but are expected to pay for everything,” she added.
Looi said her eldest son, 20, is studying mechanical engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia while her youngest, 17, is taking a foundation course at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
“My eldest can only get a 15% loan from PTPTN for his fees because we are considered T20,” she said, adding that yearly fees cost about RM15,000.
“My youngest cannot even get the loan because he is taking the foundation course, which costs RM10,000 a year,” she added.
