Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa has reminded PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia tablet recipients not to misuse or sell the free gadgets provided to them by the government.
He said students receiving them must be responsible for it.
“I have high hopes that even though these gadgets are given in a one-off basis, every recipient must take good care of them,” he said, reported Bernama.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that recipients are not required to return their devices when they finish their studies.
The initiative initially was on a loan basis and the recipients are required to return their devices after finishing their studies.
Annuar also said these devices come with a 2-year warranty and students could repair or get a new device should there be any damage during the period.
Meanwhile, Annuar said his ministry has a complete set of data on device recipients to ensure that those who had received their device could not submit a second application in the future.
“If they obtained a device during Form Six, and then furthered their studies to a university included in this programme, then they will not need to apply again,” he said.
As for the failed applications, Annuar said the ministry will refer to the students’ representative councils to obtain confirmation on the applicant’s family’s income level before approval.
Annuar said the ministry will coordinate with all institutes of higher learning in the country in phase 1 of the initiative, and the devices will be distributed in stages.
Commenting on the initiative, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said she hope the programme could be expanded to benefit all 1.6 million students in over 600 institutions of higher education throughout the country during her speech at the launch.
She said her ministry would, in the long term, make the need for a device and internet access as part of the focus in the National Higher Education Digitisation Plan.
