KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) has allocated RM339,516,500 for student welfare and development, involving the construction and maintenance of hostels or residential colleges.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said of the total, about RM261 million is to finance concessions of public-private partnerships (PPP) and private financing initiatives (PFI) for the construction of residential colleges.
“RM19.8 million is for the Kota Bharu and Jeli polytechnics in Kelantan, RM6.7 million is for Seberang Perai Polytechnic and RM14.3 million is for Ungku Omar Polytechnic.
“Meanwhile, RM40 million is for the construction of new residential colleges. This includes Universiti Malaysia Kelantan in Bachok and Tun Syed Nasor Pagoh Polytechnic, which involve a total cost of RM180 million,” he said during the wind-up of the National Undergraduates Parliamentary Sitting yesterday.
He said RM38.3 million will be used to upgrade existing residential colleges in higher learning institutions nationwide.
Khaled said the ministry is collaborating with the University Housing Council of Malaysia in ensuring the availability of accommodation in residential colleges.
He said the ministry is also studying a proposal to do away with the merit system in determining the eligibility of students to stay in residential colleges.
The two-day National Undergraduates Parliamentary Sitting, which began yesterday, was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the parliament and International Islamic University of Malaysia.
— Bernama
