KUCHING, Sept 16 2026 — The government will give a one-off RM500 special assistance for domestic flight tickets to every eligible new student entering public higher education institutions (IPTA) in the September or October intake this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
The aid is meant for students who must fly between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan to start their studies.
“The intake for public universities, polytechnics and community colleges is in September and October. This will benefit 7,095 students who need to fly between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan to begin their studies,” Anwar said at the national-level 2026 Malaysia Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
He said the measure was part of the Federal Government’s effort to ease the people’s burden, together with improvements to the BUDI MADANI Diesel initiative and a restructuring of special grant entitlements for Sarawak.
Anwar had earlier announced that Sarawak’s interim special grant would be raised to RM1.5 billion this year, from RM600 million previously.
He said the Federal Government would continue talks with the Sabah and Sarawak state governments to settle a sustainable formula for the annual Special Grant rate.
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