PUTRAJAYA: The special task force in addressing jihad is mulling the extension of the Malaysian Family cheap sales programme to 20 public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) in the country, says its chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said the proposal was raised by representatives of IPTA, private institutions of higher learning (IPTS) including teacher training colleges at an engagement session on Monday (Aug 15).

Among the issues raised was the high cost of living faced by students in campus.

Annuar, who is also Communications and Multimedia Minister, said this proposal would be brought to the task force’s meeting next week to enable students to enjoy the facilities of the programme held at 639 state constituencies.

"I expect campuses to reopen in mid-September and October. So the task force will have sufficient time to discuss the method and mechanism if the committee could give its endorsement or agreement so that the programme could be extended to campuses,” he said in a media conference after chairing the task force meeting here today.

On applications under the Malaysian Family student device programme, Annuar said student associations, especially the student representative council, would be given the responsibility as a reference centre for appeal cases by students whose online applications were not approved.

He said there were students who did not pass the screening as they were not from the B40 group, when in reality, the parents of such students were separated and such students were really in need of assistance.

"In such cases, the verification of their student association can be considered (for approval of student device application),” he said.

He added that it was also aimed at ensuring deserving students are not left out of the programme.

The device package announced during the tabling of Budget 2022 was in line with the desire of the government to ensure students, especially university students, have devices as well as Internet access at a reasonable cost.

He said the task force meeting would also be discussing the framework to evaluate and determine the level of inflation in the country.

"Before this, it was focused on goods experiencing rising prices which caused anxiety among the people and the issue had been stabilised.

"In the context of fighting inflation, the scope should be expanded and efforts are needed to focus on sectors such as transport, housing as well as other sectors in future which could contribute to inflation,” he said. - Bernama

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/15/task-force-mulls-extending-malaysian-family-cheap-sales-to-institutions-of-higher-learning