A TOTAL of 1,277 recipients received RM1,000 education aid for entrance to universities from Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Dec 19.
This included 64 undergraduates who received RM1,200 for continuing higher education in Sabah and Sarawak.
Lim said the state government from 2008 till 2017 has allocated RM20,042,900 as education fund for assistance to 21,661 undergraduates.
“From the total of 21,661 recipients, 11,873 students who received a total of RM11,075,800 were from Seberang Jaya.
“This represents the highest funding compared to that of other state governments in Malaysia,” he said at the handing over of aid to students registered for entrance to Academic Session 1 Year 2017/2018 (Bachelors Degree) for Seberang Perai held at SP Arena.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon and Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy.
According to Lim, the Penang Pakatan Harapan government can afford to spend more for the development of education for Penang-born students as the state has a convincing financial management and economy.
He added the state government in a period of nine years since 2008 recorded a surplus of RM667mil, compared to RM105.7mil financial surplus during the same period when Penang was under the previous government.
“Financial reserves also increased from RM1bil to RM1.83bil with accumulated state loans reduced by 90%,” added Lim, who is also Air Putih assemblymember.