SHAH ALAM, Nov 24 — The Selangor Higher Education Study Award (HPIPT) programme received 7,000 applications this year, prompting the state government to increase its allocation to RM5 million under the 2026 Selangor Budget.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the RM1,000 cash assistance is crucial in helping students cover the first three months of on-campus expenses, including accommodation, basic necessities, and initial costs.
“Out of the 7,000 applications, only 3,000 could be assisted this year. With an increased allocation, we can raise the number of recipients to 5,000 next year.
“The RM5 million allocation is not new, as the same amount was previously provided between 2018 and 2019,” he said when winding up the development expenditure debate on the budget during the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Amirudin added that the allocation had been reorganised to make room for other state government programmes, including the Selangor People’s Tuition Programme (PTRS), which now covers 150,000 students.
“Under PTRS, we also provide lunch and additional assistance for students who have yet to master the 3M skills (reading, writing, counting). This reflects the dynamic nature of state administration in designing the budget,” he said.
Responding to questions about delays in HPIPT disbursements, Amirudin said a thorough verification process is required to ensure students are genuinely enrolled at universities.
“If we pay based on offer letters alone, there is a risk that students may not register. The auditors do not allow us to make payments before they actually enter university,” he said.
Previously, when tabling the 2026 Selangor Budget on November 14, the Menteri Besar announced an increase in the HPIPT allocation to RM5 million, up from RM3 million since the scheme was introduced in 2023.
Through it, RM1,000 is provided to Selangor-born students pursuing studies at recognised public and private higher education institutions.
Amirudin noted that the assistance is eligible for students pursuing Level Four Skills Certificates, diplomas, and bachelor’s degrees.
