RM1,000 for Penang school leavers entering tertiary institutions

By Aaron Ngui

A total of 1,375 secondary school leavers from Penang who will be continuing their studies at public higher learning institutions will receive RM1,000 from the state government this year.

The money is intended help them defray costs for their travel and student affairs expenses.

Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng (pix) expressed hope that those who received the money will return to Penang to contribute to the state's development.

He said this was because the state had many career opportunities, as evident in it being able to attract some RM12 billion in investments last year, the highest in Malaysia.

“Penang is also cleaner, greener and safer now,” he said, citing reduction in crime by 72 percent last year.

He said this when presenting 30 students with their aid money during a ceremony at the Dewan JKR in Bukit Mertajam here today.

Lim also handed out RM1,000 each to 71 beneficiaries under the state’s Senior Citizens Appreciation Scheme in which the next-of-kin receives the payment upon the death of the registrant.

The money is to defraying funeral and related expenses.

“Taking care of those who took care of us when we were young is the right and proper thing to do,” he said.