PUTRAJAYA, Jan 18 — The Higher Education Ministry’s research grant allocation will remain at RM470 million this year despite the current economic situation, its minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said today.
He stressed that research plays an important part to promote knowledge and contribute to the people’s growth.
“Although we are aware of the current economic scenario, I am pleased to inform that the 2016 research grant will be maintained at RM470 million,” Idris said in his speech to the ministry here.
“Research has been successfully integrated into the university’s culture. Following that, research universities will continue to be funded,” he added.
Putrajaya has allocated RM13.378 billion to the ministry during the tabling of Budget 2016, a slight decrease in comparison to RM15.785 billion for the Budget 2015.
At the same time, Idris said there will be a collaboration with a community college to build low-cost houses for poor people.
“In an effort to empower the people through higher education, I am pleased to announce that community college will lead the project to build low-cost houses using composite technology with one housing unit costs less than RM20, 000,” he said.
Idris added that the ministry will kickstart the project in Terengganu by building 50 houses and this will be completed by this month.
