SERI ISKANDAR Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir has welcomed the government’s significant move to provide free education under the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) for underprivileged students attending public universities.
He said the MADANI government's initiative announced in yesterday's Budget 2026 will widen access to higher education for students who lack the financial means to attend university and significantly ease the financial burden on poor and B40 families.
“The initiative allows them to study without needing PTPTN loans, effectively, free tertiary education," he told reporters after launching the 2025 state-level Festival of Ideas (FOI@Negeri) and FOI@Perak at UiTM Perak, Seri Iskandar Campus, officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will provide free PTPTN funding for 5,800 low-income students at public universities, under a new RM120 million annual initiative starting next year.
Anwar also announced PTPTN loan repayment exemptions to all low and middle-income students who achieve First Class Honours Bachelor's Degrees at public universities, which is potentially expected to benefit about 6,000 borrowers.
Regarding the addition of 1,500 student places for Bachelor's Degrees across 10 fields of study at five research universities, Zambry described it as a crucial step to ensure more qualified students can pursue higher education.
"With these additional places, public universities can increase their student intake capacity. This is an important step forward, particularly since we have many qualified students facing limited opportunities," he added.
On the RM18.6 billion allocation to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), which includes an additional RM400 million for institutional maintenance, Zambry said the funding addresses public feedback and the need for systemic improvements in higher education.
-- BERNAMA
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