Former rep urges Sarawak govt to simplify BKK aid process for students
Chang highlights that students from the rural areas, those with parents employed in the informal sector, and those from estranged or single-parent households, often lacked formal income documentation.
SIBU (May 25): Irene Chang has called upon the Sarawak government to streamline the application for the Special Financial Assistance (BKK) scheme for tertiary-level students, citing bureaucratic hurdles as potentially excluding those most in need.
The BKK scheme, which offers RM1,200 in financial aid to each eligible Sarawakian tertiary student, was lauded by Chang as 'a commendable initiative'.
However, the former Bukit Assek assemblywoman noted that the current application process, which required the submission of parents' payslips via the Yayasan Sarawak portal, presented a significant barrier to many applicants.
'This requirement contradicts the scheme's intended purpose of supporting all students regardless of their economic or social background,' she said in a statement.
'It risks excluding the very students the scheme aims to help.'
Chang highlighted that students from the rural areas, those with parents employed in the informal sector, and those from estranged or single-parent households, often lacked formal income documentation.
As a result, these students might be unfairly disqualified from receiving much-needed assistance, she pointed out.
'If the Sarawak government is sincere about helping our Sarawakian students, they should ensure that their applications should not be hindered by many red tapes.
'As such, I urge the government and Yayasan Sarawak to revise the application conditions to better reflect the realities faced by vulnerable students.
'The only two requirements that should be necessary are the proof that the applicant is a Sarawakian such as the 'K' indicator on their MyKad, and proof of enrolment to a recognised tertiary institution such as a student ID card or official offer letter.'
During a recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, it was revealed that only 25,208 students had applied for the scheme out of an estimated 60,000 eligible candidates.
'This means that the scheme has reached less than half of its target beneficiaries,' said Chang, attributing this low uptake to the 'overly burdensome' application process.
In this respect, Chang suggested the government extend the application timeline of June 1 this year to give more students the opportunity to apply.
'They should act swiftly and decisively to remove the unnecessary barriers to ensure that this initiative reaches every deserving Sarawakian student,' she added. BKK Irene Chang lead simplify process special financial assistance students
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