THE Food Bank Siswa programme will be expanded to include private institutions of higher learning (IPTS) starting next year, as there is strong demand following its success in helping B40 students at almost 20 public universities.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the target is for the programme to cover 123 IPTS, including polytechnics and teacher training institutes, nationwide.

“Following the success of the programme, which we established in August last year, I received many calls from IPTS, seeking for it to be set up at their institutions, too.

“The Finance Ministry’s allocation of RM25 million for the programme (announced during Budget 2020’s tabling) will help us increase the number of recipients beginning next year,” he told reporters after launching the programme at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam yesterday.

On the allocation, he said his ministry will improve the programme’s logistics requirements and develop a service system so that the food aid distributed can be better monitored.

He added that UiTM is the 19th varsity to launch the programme, with some 1,000 students to benefit.

This brings to 7,500 the total number of public university students receiving the aid. – Bernama, October 22, 2019.