KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans studying in institutions of higher learning across the country will have the chance to spend more time with family and loved ones during the festive breaks thanks to airfare subsidies by the state and federal governments.
State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said this included the latest increment for flight ticket subsidies under the FLYsiswa programme which was increased from RM300 to RM400.
Arifin said the initiative would help ease the financial burdens on families whose children needed to return to their home states in the eastern part of the country during the festive seasons.
“This is a very good announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and we welcome this move,” he said, after officiating at a Christmas event in the southwestern Membakut district on Friday (Dec 13).
“This will help our children, while also increasing what we (state government) had previously provided which is the flight RM600 ticket subsidy for Sabah students in the peninsula, Sarawak and Labuan,” he added.
Arifin, who is also the state exco on religion and education, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had announced the state’s Graduan Rindu Sabah (GRS) flight ticket subsidy programme in March this year.
He added that the GRS programme, which involves a one-off RM600 payment starting next February, will benefit over 20,000 Sabahan students studying at higher learning institutes in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan.
“This RM600 is provided for the whole year but can be used during Hari Raya, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Kaamatan, or whenever they need to,” he said.
Arifin said the GRS programme coupled with the FLYsiswa subsidy will make it easier for Sabahan students to cover their flight expenses, adding they would be eligible to receive both subsidies.
On Thursday (Dec 12), Anwar said the FLYsiswa subsidy for purchasing flight tickets will be increased to RM400 effective Jan 1.
He said this initiative was part of the government's efforts to alleviate the burden on students from Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan who face high air ticket prices when returning to their home states.
