In a statement today, the department said it appreciated the initiative by the Sabah government in providing the laptops through the Bantuan Ihsan Komputer (BAIK) programme, as announced by chief minister Hajiji Noor recently.

“Under this initiative, a total of 9,842 students in Forms 5 and 6, as well as 158 students from Sekolah Agama Negeri who will sit for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (examinations) this year will receive the laptop assistance,” the department said.

“The Sabah education department together with the district education offices and schools statewide will give their full cooperation to the state government to identify eligible students.”

Hajiji had previously said the Sabah government had allocated RM15 million for the distribution of laptops to underprivileged students who will be sitting for their major examinations this year.

He said the 10,000 laptops will be distributed under phase one of the BAIK programme, from July 19 until Oct 18.

“The state government hopes this will assist needy students. This is the state government’s approach to help them so that they will not be left out of the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) programme,” he said.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Skuad Komuniti Prihatin Sabah (KPS) chairman Mohd Taufik Ismail welcomed the state government’s initiative but hoped that only eligible students will receive the assistance.

“The state government and related ministry must update the e-Kasih hardcore poor data more efficiently so as to facilitate the distribution process to the people fairly,” he said.