KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans studying in institutions of higher learning across the country will have an easier time returning home to spend more time with their families and loved ones during 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 increase in the flight ticket subsidy under the FLYsiswa programme – from RM300 to RM400.
The initiative, he said, would help ease the financial burden of families whose children want to return home during festive seasons.
“We welcome this announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“This will help our children while also increasing what we have previously provided – a RM600 flight ticket subsidy for Sabah students in the peninsula, Sarawak and Labuan,” he said after launching a pre-Christmas event in the southwestern Membakut district recently.
Mohd Arifin, who is also the state minister in charge of 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.
He noted that the GRS programme, which involves a one-off RM600 payment starting next February, will benefit more than 20,000 Sabahan students based 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 it,” he said.
Mohd Arifin said the GRS programme coupled with the FLYsiswa subsidy would make it easier for Sabahan students to cover their flight expenses, adding they would be eligible for both subsidies.
On Thursday, Anwar said the FLYsiswa subsidy for purchasing flight tickets would be increased to RM400 effective Jan 1.
The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the burden of students from Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan who face high air ticket prices when returning to their home states.
