[UPDATED] Airfare subsidies for uni students make sense: Anwar

SHAH ALAM – University students could soon be enjoying subsidies on flight tickets if a proposal on the matter, which Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described as “makes sense”, is taken up by the government.  

The prime minister said he would discuss the suggestion with Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, considering the hefty cost of airfares, particularly between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.  

Anwar also acknowledged that this is an issue, especially for low-income households.  

“On flight tickets, the transport minister had recently said that there will be additional flights during the coming Hair Raya holidays, but this is beyond the government’s scope.  

“Unless, we can subsidise the tickets for students. This makes sense. Maybe we need to negotiate with the airlines,” he said during a dialogue session with the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student representative council, here, today.  

“Perhaps (we can do it) once a year. I will discuss this with the transport minister.”

Anwar was responding to a question from a student representative on the issue of expensive airfares, which he noted is a huge burden to many. 

He then proceeded to ask if the government has any plan to subsidise the prices of tickets for travels between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak, as well as provide special allocation for university students travelling overseas for international programmes.

Anwar’s comment today comes ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive period, which typically leads to much higher airfares due to high demand. 

Yesterday, Loke said the frequency of domestic flights in conjunction with the celebration later this month will be increased. 

On a separate matter, Anwar gave his commitment that university campuses nationwide will have access to the internet soon, saying this is part of the government's push for greater connectivity as the country begins its 5G rolls out. 

“My instruction to the unity government is that the first condition, in relation to internet connectivity, is to ensure comprehensive access (to the internet). Otherwise, we won’t proceed. 

“As this (proposal) involves universities, I will have discussions with the Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin soon so that internet access will be available in all campuses nationwide.”

However, he did not elaborate if this plan will include all universities in the country, just public higher education institutions or only UiTM campuses. 

Meanwhile, Anwar announced that the RM200 ePemula e-wallet programme, which is currently limited to youth aged between 18 and 20, will be expanded to all university students, regardless of age. 

This is after a student representative bemoaned the fact that there are many university students aged 21 and above who would miss out on the initiative at its current state. 

The ePemula programme, which was announced by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his Budget 2023 tabling last October, will see youth between 18 and 20 years old receiving a one-time credit of RM200, with about two million individuals expected to benefit. – The Vibes, April 7, 2023