PETALING JAYA: The first cabinet meeting under the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government tomorrow will, hopefully, focus on a new policy for scholarship or loans for students who will be studying abroad.
PH secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said agencies handling student scholarships and loans were still based on the financial state of the previous government.
He said he was hoping to see that the new government would give focus on sponsorships for A-Levels students, including reviewing other possible aspects which may be needed.
“Firstly, we want to look into whether there is a need for scholarships or not. Secondly, we also need to look at the amount of students who want to study abroad every year.
“These are all new policies that needed to be carried out immediately. Thirdly, we want to look into the area of studies that the students would be taking which would require them to study outside of the country.
“Fourthly, there is a need to review the amount of scholarship to be given and fifth, if it’s a local scholarship, we also need to review how the cost of living allowance for the students,” he told reporters at the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) headquarters.
Earlier today, Saifuddin went on an unofficial visit to the three main agencies providing scholarship and student loans – the Public Service Department (PSD), Education Ministry and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
Saifuddin said he also met with some 150 A-Levels students who have been given PSD scholarships.
“I hope that this issue would be a focus in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. I’ve also spoken to Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik and he knows that we had a meeting today. Since there is no minister in charge of PSD at the moment, I think that Dr Maszlee is the right person to talk about it in the Cabinet meeting.”