The 150,000 laptops that the government promised to provide students under Budget 2021 will be on a loan basis.
The laptops were acquired through the RM150 million Cerdik Fund which was pooled together by government-linked companies (GLC) and government-linked investment companies (GLIC).
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said he was disappointed by the mechanism which was detailed on a website set up for the Cerdik programme.
The programme is being managed by Yayasan Hasanah, a foundation under state-owned Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
"Why was the fact that the laptops will be on loan was not presented in Parliament during Budget 2021?" he said on Facebook.
Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, in his Budget 2021 speech, had announced RM150 million would be allocated to provide 150,000 students with laptops.
"In this new norm, online education has become a way of life. In this respect I would like to announce that the GLCs and GLICs will contribute RM150 million into the Cerdik Fund to provide laptops to 150,000 students in 500 schools as a pilot project," he had said.
With the revelation that it will be on a loan scheme, Syed Saddiq urged the government to provide details, such as what happens if the laptop is damaged.
"Do students, many who are from poor families, need to replace the laptop if it is damaged or if there are other issues?" he said.
Syed Saddiq added if opposition MPs with limited funds could provide free laptops to students, he did not see why the government could not do so.
He also noted that the previous BN government had also provided free netbooks with an RM450 million allocation.
The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) co-founder had in December last year raised close to RM400,000 to provide laptops for needy families.
Laptops have become even more of a necessity after the country was placed under the second movement control order (MCO) on Jan 13.
Under the MCO, schools are closed to most students as classes move online but not all students can afford a device or data plans.
Several MPs, including Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong, have sought to raise funds to help such students.
Prominent figures such as former national shuttler Lee Chong Wei have also stepped in to donate laptops and tablets.
According to the Cerdik programme website, the laptop scheme will be similar to the textbook loan scheme. Data plans will also be provided.
The programme targets students who do not have access to the Internet for e-learning.
Students from B40 families will qualify. Students with special needs, from the Orang Asli community or being raised by a single parent also qualify.
However, their household income cannot exceed RM4,849 a month. - Mkini
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