Kota Kinabalu: The Program Bantuan Ihsan Komputer (Baik) introduced by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government is one of the efforts to assist underprivileged students in acquiring laptops for learning purposes, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He is satisfied that the programme which has benefited over 2,000 deserving Sabah students since it was introduced in 2022.
“The programme is an additional initiative to ensure all deserving underprivileged students at higher education institutions (IPT) have laptops.
“Computers have become essential tools for students, and for this the State Government introduced the Baik programme, which had never been implemented before.
The programme is being continued this year for Sabah IPT students to apply.
“Other programmes to assist students include one-off registration cash aid for IPT (Budi) and Special Cash Aid for Examinations (Bakti).
“We have many initiatives in place to help and ensure that Sabah students are not left behind in their education,” he said.
One of the recipients, Norshafikah Zaiddi, 24, an accounting student at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kota Kinabalu, expressed her gratitude for finally owning a laptop.
Norshafikah, who hails from Sandakan, said previously she had to share a laptop with her sibling.
“I am thrilled that I now have my own laptop, which makes it easier for me to complete assignments,” she said, adding both her parents are self-employed.
For a mother, Sabnah Jamdan, 43, she felt touched and thanked the Government for this provision under the Baik programme.
“This laptop will make it easier for our child, who is now studying at the Labuan Matriculation College, to complete her assignments. Alhamdulillah, this assistance is of great help,” said the full-time housewife.
The recipients of the laptops are among 1,000 higher education institution (IPT) students who benefited from last year’s applications.
For further information, new applicants for the BAIK programme can access: https://baik.sabah.gov.my
