SHAH ALAM: The government has increased its FLYSiswa flight ticket subsidy from RM300 to RM400 per student.
The programme applies to students travelling between Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan to peninsula states, and vice versa.
This also applies to students travelling from Sarawak to Sabah, and vice versa.
"Combined with additional state support of RM600, Sabah and Sarawak students studying in the peninsula will receive a total of RM1,000 annually to buy flight tickets," he said in a press conference at the FLYSiswa and Student Transportation carnivals at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam today.
The subsidy applies to students from their first year of study until graduation.
"For those entering university this year who missed out, they can apply starting January next year," said Loke.
Loke noted that of 50,000 eligible students this year, 35,000 have redeemed their vouchers.
"I remind those who have not redeemed their subsidies that they can do so until 31 December. These vouchers can be used to buy tickets for next year's flights at any time," he said.
The event was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and was also attendes by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
In May, the government stated that it will continue the implementation of the initiative to provide subsidised air ticket purchase for public university, polytechnic, and community college students.
The move is in line with the announcement made Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Budget 2024 Speech on Oct 13, 2023, regarding the distribution of cash assistance.