KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has allocated RM2 billion this year for 68,000 students under its sponsorship, including 20,000 new students.

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub told the Dewan Rakyat today the sponsorship was given to students according to their parents’ income eligibility category.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Hasan Malek (BN-Kuala Pilah) who wanted to know the amount of allocation and students sponsored by MARA this year.

Replying to Hassan’s original question on whether the ministry proposed to review the eligibility of MARA education loan applicants in view of the rising cost of living, Ahmad Jazlan said MARA had raised the eligibility limit based on the socio-economic status of the applicant’s family.

He said families earning RM8,000 per month and below were eligible to be considered for full sponsorship, including tuition fees and living allowance (ESH).

Students from families earning RM8,001 to RM15,000 monthly are eligible to be considered for part sponsorship only.

"Students from families with a monthly income of RM15,001 and above are only eligible for sponsorship through other sources such as MARA collaboration programmes with local banks, Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) and others,” he said. — Bernama