No empty promise: Special aid for Sarawak students delayed by high applications, strict verification

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 18: The allegation that the Special Financial Assistance (BKK) for Sarawakian students is merely an empty promise is completely unfounded, with delays in disbursement attributed to the overwhelming volume of over 42,000 applications and the need for careful verification of each submission.

Dismissing the allegation, Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee assured that the assistance will continue to be delivered to eligible students.

In a news report by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), he stressed that thorough vetting is essential to ensure the financial aid reaches those who are genuinely deserving.

“The number of applications is huge, 42,000. Verification must be done thoroughly because it involves money.

“We don’t want this aid to go to those who are not deserving, and at the same time, we also don’t want to leave out students who truly need it,” he told reporters after attending the TCS-Yayasan Taqwa Education Assistance presentation and appreciation ceremony today.

Dr Annuar further explained that the delay is further compounded by the need for every application to be supported by a confirmation letter from the respective universities.

“We initially thought the process could be completed quickly, but since this is the first time it’s being implemented, it has taken longer than expected.

“Moving forward, verification will only be required for new applicants. Existing students will not need to undergo the verification process again,” he clarified.

To ensure no deserving student is left out, the application deadline, originally set for June 1, 2025, was extended to June 30, 2025.

The Special Financial Assistance is available to Sarawakian students pursuing higher education in both public and private institutions across Malaysia.

The assistance amounts to RM1,200 per year, disbursed in two payments of RM600 per semester via the SPay Global application. Students studying in Peninsular Malaysia can transfer the funds from SPay Global to their respective DuitNow accounts. — DayakDaily

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