KUCHING (Bernama): The Malaysian Family PerantiSiswa initiative announced in Budget 2022 is capable of resolving the problem of the "lost learning generation" among B40 tertiary-level students whose studies were affected by their lack of access to gadgets.

       Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth deputy chief Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman said these students were badly affected especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "I hope this initiative will be expanded to school students to help them with their home-based teaching and learning sessions (PdPR) and reduce their parents’ burden,” he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 29).

       When tabling Budget 2022 earlier in the day, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced the initiative which will provide a tablet to every B40 student in institutions of higher education.

       According to Tengku Zafrul, the government has allocated RM450mil in addition to contributions of around RM65mil by telecommunications companies.

       A total of 600,000 students from B40 households will benefit from this initiative.

       Fazzrudin, who is Tupong assemblyman, also thanked the Federal Government for increasing the development allocation for Sarawak.

       "I hope the Federal Government’s commitment to develop the state continues and more will be allocated for development projects in the future,” he added. – Bernama