IPOH: THE Perak Computer and Digital Association (PCDA) hopes that the government will consider giving a RM300 voucher to students nationwide to buy information technology gadgets.
Its president, Kevin Chang, said the association believed that the voucher would enable the students to acquire greater knowledge in the IT field.
Speaking to reporters after the opening of the Perak IT Fair here on Friday, he said PCDA hoped that the Finance Ministry would accept the proposal in next year’s budget.
“It is our humble request that the government includes our proposal into next year’s budget.
“Such a move would benefit the student population immensely,” he said at the Indera Mulia Indoor Stadium where the IT event ended yesterday.
Chang said the PCDA
proposal would also help the IT sector in the country grow substantially.
Present was state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon who launched the 13th edition of the Perak IT Fair.
According to Chang, the proposed IT vouchers would enable students or parents to buy IT goods without having to face the effect of the soon-to-be introduced goods and services tax (GST).
The GST will be implemented beginning April 1 next year.
Chang said consumers in Perak would be spoilt for choice when buying IT gadgets when the new Perak IT Mall opens in the second quarter of next year.
To be located in Jalan Kuala Kangsar, about 20 minutes’ drive from the city centre, the IT mall would be the biggest outfit of its kind in the state.
Chang said the idea for the mall was mooted by Dr Mah back in 2011. “Once operational, it would house 81 IT stores and kiosks within a 22,000 sq ft (2,043sqm) area,” he said, adding that the mall would be in Tasek Square near here.