IPOH – The Perak government will distribute 20,000 smartphones for the “Tusyen Cikgu Saarani” (TCS) programme beginning Saturday to assist students who are undergoing home-based teaching and learning starting this week.
Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said they had gathered data on eligible students from the state Education Department and district education office.
“To ensure smooth distribution and prevent groups from gathering, the state government will hand out the smartphones through state assemblyman service centres beginning Saturday.
“It is hoped this will help students in home-based learning,” he said in a virtual press conference today.
It was reported that the TCS programme, launched in February, would benefit students from low-income families and those sitting for major examinations including Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.
During the press conference, Saarani also launched a Palestine humanitarian fund to raise money to help Palestinians being oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime.
“For starters, the Perak state government meeting today agreed to channel RM100,000 to the fund, to be followed by contributions from state government-linked companies.
“The fund is a sign of solidarity of the people of Perak, regardless of race and religion, in supporting the worldwide protest against the atrocities inflicted on Palestinians,” he said.
Saarani said that to ensure the aid reach the targeted groups, the state government had asked Parit MP Datuk Nizar Zakaria, who is actively involved in humanitarian missions to Palestine, to directly contact the Palestinian authorities, apart from getting Wisma Putra’s help.
At least 217 Palestinians have been killed, including 63 children and 36 women, and 1,500 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since May 10, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. – Bernama, May 19, 2021
