KUALA LUMPUR, December 11 - The Siswa Sulung Programme is not only implemented for students from B40 families but also covers the less fortunate M40 group.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said that so far a total of 1,934 students have received assistance through the programme.

"If you are in the group of M40 but have a large number of family members, about seven or eight people, for which the family has to spend significantly on their children, then we also ask them to apply to this programme," he said.

This explanation answered a supplementary question from Sungai Siput’s Member of Parliament S. Kesavan regarding the proposal to extend the tuition fee exemption to students from M40 families who are affected by the increase in the cost of living.

The Siswa Sulung programme is dedicated to the first child from a less fortunate family who has successfully received a place for a first degree programme at a public university.

At the same time, in a bid to help university students from less fortunate families, an assistance of RM1,000 each were given to cover expenses before they obtain funding from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).