KUALA LUMPUR: The RM300 subsidy initiative for public university students to buy flight tickets for domestic routes not only eases the financial burden on their families but also makes it easier for return trips to their hometowns.

       Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student representative council president Fatin Amirah Mohd Hisham said to some extent, the subsidy provided relief for students who want to return home during semester breaks, adding that many from Sabah and Sarawak chose not to go home during such breaks or festive seasons owing to high airfares.

       "These complaints are from my friends and... were also conveyed to the student representative council.

       "They (students) have to work and raise money every semester just to buy tickets.

       "If it is not enough, then they will not return home," she said in a recent interview.

       Even though the subsidy was just a one-time payment, she said it was much needed by students seeing as the semester break is coming up.

       "We understand that it is not easy for the government to spend the RM16.8mil (Which will) benefit... more than 56,000 students.

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       "However, such initiatives... can ease the burden on students and their families," she said.

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       The subsidy for domestic flights will begin on Aug 15.

       Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Wednesday (July 12) that participating airlines would issue a digital voucher worth RM300 to each eligible student to redeem when buying flight tickets for domestic routes from the peninsula to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

       Fatin Amirah suggested that the government should fine-tune the implementation and reduce confusion over the process so that eligible students will not miss out on the benefit.

       "The government... has heard our grievances that have been brought up for a long time. I hope this initiative will be (for the long term)," she added.

       Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Sabah Patriot Club president Muhammad Harith Fauzan Mohd Faudzi said although the subsidy could not cover the full price of a flight ticket in some instances, it does allow students some savings.

       He said students have been struggling to cover daily expenses without having to raise money to buy flight tickets to return home.

       "At UUM shops, many of the (part-time) workers are students from Sabah and Sarawak.

       "They (are working) to raise money to buy tickets as money provided under PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans is not enough," he said.

       Muhammad Harith Fauzan said the government should examine the subsidy distribution mechanism for students who need to take more than one flight to reach their destination.

       For example, some may have fly from Alor Setar, Kedah to Kuala Lumpur where they will then board another flight to their hometown.

       The government should also create a special fund to help students return home quickly in the event of an emergency such as a close relative's death, he added. – Bernama