KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) students have been told not to exchange their RM200 book vouchers for cash.
Unimas Student and Alumni Welfare vice-chancellor Prof Mohd Fadzil Abd Rahman said the vouchers must be used to purchase academic books or relevant materials pertaining to their fields of study.
He claimed that he had overheard students in a plane and coffeeshops saying they were considering exchanging their vouchers for cash.
“Definitely they are not Unimas students because if they are they would not say that because they would recognised me. I guess they are from other institutions of higher learning,” he said at a ceremony for handing over of 1Malaysia book vouchers at Unimas in Kota Samarahan near here yesterday.
Mohd Fadzil alleged that the students he overheard were talking about themselves making some arrangements with bookstores to pay them RM130 for a voucher.
He said if it happened, the bookstores would benefit the most from the Government grant.
“There are nearly 12,000 students in Unimas and if half of them do that, imagine how much the bookstores can make from the irresponsible act. To all Unimas students, please don’t exchange your vouchers for cash. The amount may be little considering the cost of one book could be up to RM600, but the purpose is for buying books, so buy your books,” he said.
Mohd Fadzil said he could call and tell every bookstore in Kuching not to give cash to Unimas students, but he did not want to do that because he wanted the students to think for themselves.
About 1.3 million Malaysian students are currently studying in public and private universities, polytechnics and in Form Six will benefit from the aid programme.
Extracted from thestar.
