KUALA LUMPUR – Students ranging from those in Year 4 to tertiary education will be eligible to receive RM100 book vouchers from the government starting tomorrow.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said students would be able to use these vouchers nationwide starting 2pm tomorrow.
He also encouraged the students involved to spend the vouchers at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF), which is currently being held in the World Trade Centre from May 24 until June 2.
Speaking at the launch of the book fair today, Anwar said the book vouchers would only apply to students from Year 4 onwards to ensure prudent government spending.
“We might not be able to give (book vouchers) to all students. But for the sake of education for students, be it at national, Arab, Chinese or Tamil schools, we will proceed with the (distribution of the) RM100 vouchers.
However, Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, said the government would provide a guide on what books should be purchased.
He said the ministry would provide a list of books students could purchase with the vouchers.
“Because when we provide too much leeway, all kinds of books can be purchased for reading, thus we will provide a guide.
“There will be classic novels from prominent laureates which will be recommended.
“Then there will be books on technology because I want our youth to be well-versed with artificial intelligence basics,” Anwar said, adding that titles recommended included those from literary laureates Datuk Seri A. Samad Said, the late Datuk Shahnon Ahmad and Datuk Anwar Ridhwan, among others.
Present at the event were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Speaking to Scoop, Zambry said his ministry was working closely with the Education Ministry with regard to the mechanisms on how these vouchers could be obtained.
He said these mechanisms would include the use of matriculation cards for tertiary students while primary and secondary school pupils would have their own systems in place.
In the interim, both ministries will work with the KLIBF organisers on the possibility of redeeming the vouchers at the event, but he asked the public to wait for an official announcement on the matter. – May 30, 2024