Small Allowance Drives Students To Rent Unsafe Houses - M'sian Student Body

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- The collapse of the awning at a dilapidated house occupied by 11 Malaysian students in northern Jakarta on Saturday reflects the need for organisations to raise the allowance of students they sponsor, according to a students association. The National Association of Malaysian Students in Indonesia (PKPMI) said Monday the current quantum of allowance enabled Malaysian students in this Indonesian capital city only to rent poor quality houses which are rather unsafe. Association president Khairul Hafidz Alkhair Khairul Amin said a check by the student body found that the wooden pillars and front portion of the roof of the house in Grogol had decayed and the walls had weakened. "However, the Malaysian students still rented the house because it is the cheapest in their area and the rent is affordable," he said. Eight of the 11 Malaysian students involved in Saturday's incident are Public Service Department (PSD) scholars and the other three are sponsored by Mara (Malaysian government agency). They are studying at the University of Trisakti in northern Jakarta. Khairul Hafidz Alkhair said they decided to rent the house in that area because the cost of living in Jakarta and all over Indonesia has been rising every year. "Therefore, PKPMI once again appeals to the Public Service Department and Mara to review the subsistence allowance of their scholars," he said. -- BERNAMA