Minister makes it ‘personal commitment’ no students go hungry

Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh says it is his personal commitment to ensure no university students go hungry due to financial constraints. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 10, 2016.Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has pledged to take responsibility of public university students who had to starve due to financial difficulties.

Idris had at the same time issued a directive to the universities' administration offices, including the deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs and alumni (Hepa) office to identify the students involved and report the matter immediately to him and the ministry.

"My personal commitment is to ensure that no students will ever go hungry in future.

"The Higher Education Ministry too has issued a directive requesting students who have nothing to eat to report to the ministry and the university's authority and God willing, we will take care of their needs."

The issue came after recent media reports highlighted cases of students getting ill from starving themselves due to poor finances.

In one case, a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was reportedly admitted for punctured intestines, allegedly due to a poor diet from sustaining herself on only RM30 per week.

Idris, who is Besut MP, had taken note of the issue, which was due to the high cost of living, and it had gone viral on Facebook.

However, he said the issue should not be exaggerated over the mass media as the ministry and the universities had always been concerned over students' welfare and had taken various initiatives to assist the students involved.

He also reiterated that there were various sources of financing to help the students among them the National Higher Education Fund, student cards, zakat, charitable funds and endowments.

"Part-time job opportunities are also available on campus paying between RM3 and RM10 per hour. I hope, people will not manipulate this issue." – Bernama, January 10, 2016.