IT has been two months since the applications for phase one of the PerantiSiswa programme were closed and students have yet to receive their devices, Teo Nie Ching said.

With classes ongoing, the former deputy education minister lamented the government was “doing little” to address the matter.

“We want to know how many applicants have applied, how many qualify and when will those who qualify receive these promised tablets?” the DAP lawmaker questioned.

The Kulai MP said that phase one of the program’s application deadline ended on May 15 and claimed that students were complaining that they had not received any feedback on the application for a tablet.

The PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia package was announced during the tabling of the Budget 2022 in October last year in line with the government’s aspiration to ensure that the people, especially students of higher learning institutions had the necessary devices and enjoyed internet access at a reasonable cost.

Teo claimed that Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa on May 9 announced that the first batch of students would receive their tablets under the Peranti Siswa Keluarga Malaysia programme in the second week of June, which was also stated on the Finance Ministry’s website. 

“It is now the third week of July and we have not seen the first phase of the PerantiSiswa programme take place. Applicants are enthusiastic and parents of applicants are hopeful that their children will be able to cope just fine despite the post-pandemic challenges.    

“Presently, we have no form of guarantee from the government that the tablets will indeed be distributed by July. In the meantime, can the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia reassure students? 

“This is particularly significant to those who have applied so a response and an acknowledgement will reassure students of some form of assistance in the near future,” she said. – July 14, 2022.