'Bad timing among reasons why book voucher plan failed'

Feb 2: Amid the controversy about the 1Malaysia Book Vouchers being sold for cash by students, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan  said it was bad execution which rendered the plan ineffective.

The RM200 book vouchers given to every student ranging from Form Six to university-level formed part of prime minister Najib Razak’s 2012 budget to lessen their financial burden in purchasing reference books.

Recent reports on students selling away the vouchers irked the Higher Education ministry, with minister Khaled Noordin urging police to act against students who sold their vouchers.

"The students must be made responsible for their wrong-doings," said Khaled.

Nasrudin however cited poor timing as the reason for the problem.

“The vouchers were distributed right after students had completed their final exam. These students will then go for long vacation. The vouchers are valid till March 31, 2012.  

"Against this backdrop, the vouchers are ineffective unless the expiry date can be extended to a reasonable date,” said Nasrudin.

'Time it for Book Fair'

The Pahang PAS deputy commissioner proposed that the expiry date  be aligned with the start of the new semester or during the International Book Fair slated in April.

The time validity of the vouchers, said Nasrudin, was the real reason why some chose to exchange the vouchers for cash.

He also also urged the government to think of more ways to help students.

“In Islam, it is compulsory for the government to give free education to the people, not a one-off payment like the vouchers,” he added.