KOTA SAMARAHAN: Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) has spent about RM1.76 million in the Education Variable loan programme to help underprivileged students.
YBR chairman Datuk Wira Megat Zulkarnain Tan Sri Omardin said, it is indeed a relatively large number but it is their focus in ensuring that students are eligible to be able to change their lives for the better in the future.
“This is part of our contribution in building a nation and producing children who can compete and be an asset to the country,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after the 2022 Early Study Aid Handover Ceremony at the Tun Abdul Razal Library, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) Sarawak Branch, Kota Samarahan 2 Campus yesterday.
He added that under the programmr, they have also received 4,400 applications within a month, starting from February 15 till March 15.
According to him, out of the total, they have approved 125 applications and the rest will be re-screened.
“Other agencies only open applications for Education Variable loans once a year, in July and usually after the examination results are announced.
“However, we (YBR) are the only agency that opened the application early (last February) with the intention to see how the application is received,” he said, adding that they will also open the application again in July.
Because of that, they are also trying to get additional allocation to the foundation so that it can help more students who are studying throughout the country, he stressed.
Regarding Early Learning Assistance or Bantuan Awal Pembelajaran (BAP), he yesterday presented mock cheques worth RM80,000 each to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
