KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Ahead of the tabling of Budget 2027, higher education students are hoping the government will expand financial assistance to help them cope with rising costs of living.

Besides increases to existing aid such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), students are calling for new measures to ease their daily expenses.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam Students’ Representative Council member Muhammad Ammar Romli, 22, said initiatives such as book vouchers and Menu Siswa Rahmah had made a positive impact but were insufficient to cover food, transport, accommodation and academic expenses.

“Food assistance such as Menu Siswa Rahmah has a significant impact because it directly reduces students’ daily expenses, but there is still considerable room for improvement,” he told Bernama.

Increasing National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans was not a complete solution, he said, calling on the government to provide targeted assistance or subsidies to help cover education and living costs without adding to students’ financial burden after graduation.

Universiti Selangor (UNISEL) student Abhinaayasri Srivenkatarao shared similar concerns, saying that while the Madani Government had introduced various initiatives to support students, the high cost of living remained a burden.

“PTPTN loans are very helpful, but for some students they are no longer enough to cover education and living expenses,” she said.

Parents also described financing higher education as a major challenge, particularly for families with several children still studying.

Zareah Kandam, 49, said families faced significant pressure from tuition fees, educational supplies and their children’s daily expenses.

“The burden is greater for families with more than one child studying at a higher education institution.

“Government initiatives such as education loans, scholarships, financial assistance and subsidies have certainly helped, but some families still need additional support, particularly as living costs continue to rise,” she said.

Zareah hoped Budget 2027 would introduce more comprehensive measures, including financial assistance for students enrolling at university, hostel fee subsidies and higher living allowances.

“Transport assistance would also greatly help students studying far from home. The application process for aid should be simplified and take into account household income and the number of children pursuing higher education,” she said.

Student welfare has also emerged as a prominent topic on social media platform Threads, with users calling on the government to pay greater attention to students’ financial struggles.

The government has previously introduced initiatives including Madani Book Vouchers, MySiswa Job On Campus and Ikhtiar Dapur Siswa Madani to support students.

Budget 2027 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on October 9. — Bernama