By Nurul Haziqah Abdul Halim
Pix By Izwan
BANGI, 22 Feb 2013 – The government have been very generous in providing various kinds of incentives to help the youth of Malaysia get by especially in their studies.

Vice Chancellor of University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin, said apart from the 1Malaysia Book voucher, there was also the BR1M vouchers for young adults who hold jobs with salaries below RM3000 a month as well as smart phone vouchers.

Speaking when handing over 1Malaysia Book Vouchers to student representatives at Pusakina here today, she said “we know that students especially need these vouchers, not just for books but also for other modern essentials, like the mobile phone. These vouchers are a way to help lighten the burden on families who cannot afford to spend so much,” Prof Sharifah Hapsah said.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs), Prof Ir Dato’ Dr Othman A. Karim; Deputy Registrar of Students Services Department, Hj Musa Zainal Abidin Othman, Heads of Faculties and Principals of Residential Colleges.  President of the Students’ Council, Ahmad Shukran Shaharudin and other student representatives were also present.

UKM received the vouchers in January but had withheld them then as the students were facing their exams. The decision was made to hand out the vouchers upon their return for their second semester.

She reminded then to use the vouchers wisely and not to exchange them for money.

Over 20,000 UKM students qualify to receive the vouchers and she advised them to buy original copies of books at the UKM Corporation, UNIKEB where many text and reference books are available.