The Malaysian federal government approved an annual grant of RM25 million for AIMST University, with an additional RM1 million allocated to support students from underprivileged families. The announcement was made at the grant presentation ceremony on June 7, 2026 [1, 2].
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, "The Madani Government will ensure that the poorest students at this university continue to receive guaranteed assistance. Therefore, I am adding RM1 million specifically for that purpose" [1]. The same statement was also released in Malay by Datuk Seri Anwar confirming the targeted allocation for needy students [2].
The government had earlier announced a RM100 book purchase allowance for every secondary school and university student one week before the AIMST grant ceremony [1, 2]. This allowance aims to ease educational expenses for students nationwide.
Anwar Ibrahim stressed education as a key government priority, noting it receives the largest budget allocation annually [1, 2]. Despite global economic challenges, Malaysia’s unemployment rate has hit its lowest historical level, while investment performance reached a record high according to government data [1, 2].
The next step includes the disbursement of these funds to AIMST University and the rollout of the book purchase allowance to students, set to begin immediately following the announcements.
