The Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) will expedite the review of the allowance rate following the cost of living issue faced by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA)-sponsored students abroad, its minister, Dato’ Seri Mahdzir Khalid told.
He said that KPLB is in the midst of gathering information, and a discussion between the ministry and MARA will be held to refine a solution, before presenting it to the Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
“The review has started these few weeks after we received information on this issue from our students abroad. Once the report is ready, we will submit it (the findings) to the Prime Minister and MoF, then we can see how to help (the students).
“It (the review) will be based on the study period and tuition fees, utility payment rate, and study location, among the things,” said him.
He was speaking after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration with KPLB, at the Institut Kemajuan Desa, today (12 May 2022), with the aim of strengthening the bond between KPLB staff and its agencies, as well as inculcating the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia among them.
Previously, media reports that KPLB is examining the rate of allowance to MARA-sponsored students abroad, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland, who are burdened due to the high cost of living.
Asked about job placement for graduates from MARA education institutes, he said that there were hardly any issues encountered, particularly for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) higher learning institutions as they have established strategic partnerships with key industrial players.
For instance, courses taught at the Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) are recognised by leaders and professional bodies of its relevant industries like railway, shipping and aviation.
Strategic partnerships with key industrial players are established from time to time to ensure UniKL can continuously leverage all the latest technology and its resources provided by partners which indirectly opens job opportunities.
