Food@Campus Keluarga Malaysia voucher programme to be continued

PUTRAJAYA: The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) has decided to continue the Food@Campus Keluarga Malaysia free food voucher initiative for B40 students at universities to blunt the impact of rising food costs on students.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said Yayasan Kebajikan Siswa Keluarga Malaysia (YKS) has agreed to contribute RM1 million in funds for the Food@Campus Keluarga Malaysia 2.0 programme.

"I have high hopes that Food@Campus Keluarga Malaysia 2.0 will continue to champion the welfare of students in reducing their daily expenses," she said in her speech while launching Food@Campus Keluarga Malaysia 2.0 here today.

"The initiative will indirectly enable students to focus on their studies without worrying about their survival," she added.

The initiative began in 2021 under the Keluarga Malaysia Aspiration programme.

Under the initiative, 470,444 free food vouchers were given to 94,088 B40 students at all universities through an injection of funds totalling RM7,056,660, RM1 million of which was donated by YKS.

YKS was launched on Oct 29, 2021 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is the foundation's patron, and aims to manage the integrated welfare and channelling of aid, as well as strengthening the role and capabilities of the National Student Consultative Council.

For the first half of this year till June, Noraini said 369,504 food vouchers were distributed for the benefit of 176,083 public university students.

"The implementation was supported through internal allocation sources totalling RM5.5 million from wakaf and zakat contributions along with donations from individuals and welfare agencies," she said.

She also urged companies and non-governmental organisations to support the ministry to make the Food@Campus Keluarga Malaysia 2.0 initiative a success and help it expand and reach more students in need.

-- BERNAMA