KOTA KINABALU: Students from urban poor families require more assistance than those from rural families, said state Assistant Finance Minister Tan Lee Fatt today.
"The urban poor do exist and the solution for them is even more complicated. This is because the cost of living is higher in the city.
"That is why I would like to see more corporate social responsibility programmes, not only from banks, but also from the private sector and government-linked companies, to help students in the city."
The Likas assemblyman was speaking after witnessing the handing over of Yayasan Bank Rakyat schooling aid at Likas Vocational College here.
A total of 250 students from Likas Vocational College, SMK Likas, SMK Perempuan, SM Lok Yuk and SMJK Shan Tao received the aid.
Yayasan Bank Rakyat chairman Datuk Philip Lasimbang said its reason for wanting to help the urban poor was due to the fact that those from the B40 income category would struggle more compared with those in rural areas.
"Those in villages can farm their own vegetables or rear livestock (to cushion the impact of the high cost of living). But urban poor communities have limited flexibility.
"This kind of assistance may not be a big amount for them, but it will encourage them to study.
"I believe this will not be the last assistance (as there are other institutions that will help them)."
Philip said the loan scheme, which is waivable with good examination results, would help students in Sabah to pursue their education.
Present were programme organising chairperson Dennison R. Indang, Likas Vocational College director Mokhtar Ibrahim and Penampang Rotary chairman Benjamin Tan.