PerantiSiswa recipients can keep tablets, says PM

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced today that all recipients under the PerantiSiswa initiative are not required to return the tablets back to the government.

"I am happy to announce that the government has agreed to give these tablets to students.

"There is no need to borrow, and there is no need to return it... the government will be giving them to the recipients.

"Today's donation is a form of appreciation and will hopefully be a catalyst for the recipients of these devices to study hard and get excellent results," he said when speaking at the PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia launch ceremony at UiTM, Shah Alam today.

400,000 B40 students across the nation will be receiving Samsung Galaxy tablets.

This announcement was made amid speculation that the 15th general election will be held soon.

A total of 450 recipients from phase one of the PerantiSiswa initiative received their devices today.

Not ‘cap ayam’

Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, who was also present at the event, dismissed the critics who had previously said this programme would not be implemented.

“Not bad for those who are impatient, mocking the government that this is just lip service, but as a responsible government in terms of administration, the implementation… must be carried out carefully,” he said, emphasising that the best brand in the market was chosen for the initiative.

“(The tablets are) not OEM… it is not like the devices in the past, and when these devices are given to the students, there is no need to worry as long as they take good care of it.

“If it’s damaged, just send it to the replacement centre, and you will immediately get another one… Studies will not be interrupted, and there is no need to worry even if they are hit by floods because another tablet will be given continuously.

“As long as you don’t sell it to Low Yat (Plaza),” Annuar quipped.

When the PerantiSiswa program was first announced, concerns were raised about the quality of the tablets that would be distributed to students.

At that time, while the open tender process was still ongoing, Annuar assured that the devices would not be cap ayam (low quality) and that he specifically requested tablets from an established, premium brand.

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