The PerantiSiswa tablets for B40 students are currently being distributed at universities and institutions of higher learning across the country. However, it has been reported that some students have started selling their Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 LTE tablets instead of using them for their studies.
Minister of Communications and Multimedia Tan Sri Annuar Musa has expressed disappointment about the sale of the tablets that are meant to help students with their studies. He reminded that these tablets are meant for students from B40 groups and for personal use only. The sale of the tablets is against the agreed terms when they applied and collected the tablet.
Annuar Musa, who’s also the lead for the PerantiSiswa programme, warned that they are able to track and identify individuals who have sold the tablet. A total of 14 cases have been detected through public complaints and monitoring of online ads, and they are looking into the situation seriously.
MenKOMM @AnnuarMusa said the #PerantiSiswa tablets come with a built-in tracking system. They will know if it’s used in campus or used by those who don’t deserve it. Selling of tablets is against the terms of the programme. https://t.co/8YpjciOji1 pic.twitter.com/pAVauxdSA4
— SoyaCincau (@Soya_Cincau) October 25, 2022
He said during today’s press conference that the PerantiSiswa tablets are pre-loaded with built-in apps which include a tracking system. He claims they will know the location of the tablet whether it is at campus or at other locations, and if it is being used by those who don’t deserve it.
He added that his Ministry is considering on taking actions towards those who sold the tablets. This may include public shaming by revealing the names of those who violated the terms of PerantiSiswa on the official portal and inform their respective universities.
When questioned further about the tracking feature, the Minister said the use of the feature is up to the individual and there’s no intention to encroach the privacy of students. He then clarified that it is merely a safety feature just in case if the device is lost or missing. He also said the tracking system is offered as standard on most devices today and it’s nothing out of the ordinary or exclusive to PerantiSiswa.
Although he didn’t name the “tracking system”, we are guessing that this could be Samsung’s Find My Mobile feature which allows users to get access to the location of the device even when it’s offline. You can lock and even set the ringtone to ring remotely so that you can find the device.
Annuar Musa said if the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 LTE tablet doesn’t fulfill the student’s requirement, they shouldn’t apply in the first place. He said the act of selling the tablet is unethical and it goes against the terms of the PerantiSiswa programme. He hopes the sale of the tablets will be stopped immediately. Annuar revealed that there’s a buy back policy with the supplier and the government might consider allowing students to sell back the tablets after one or two years of usage.
Despite the recent sale of tablets, Annuar Musa assured that the distribution of the tablets to B40 students will not slow down. He added that he has his own personal KPI to distribute all approved PerantiSiswa tablets by the end of November. He doesn’t want the programme to drag on like other programmes which took more than two years to complete.
During the press conference, he noted that some students have sold the PerantiSiswa tablet far below the market rate. He shared that the PerantiSiswa tablet bundle which include the keyboard, case and stylus is estimated to have a market value of RM1,700-RM1,800. He believes the tablets were sold for less than RM1,000 so that they can find buyers and dispose the tablets quickly.
He hopes those who have posted their ads to sell the PerantiSiswa tablets to pull them down as soon as possible. He added that his officers are looking into the ads to trace the individuals. He also told potential buyers not to buy Perantisiswa tablets because it is not meant for sale.
Adik-adik, janganlah jual tablet yang dah dibagi.
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) October 25, 2022
Ada banyak lagi pelajar dari keluarga susah yang memerlukan.
It’s our responsibility to help them. pic.twitter.com/w7V3C4fVUV
Muar MP Syed Saddiq has also tweeted on social media reminding PerantiSiswa recipients not to sell the tablets. Some had applied and sold the tablet claiming that they already own an iPad. He said there are many other students from poor families who have their PerantiSiswa applications rejected and selling the tablet is depriving other deserving students from getting their device.
[ SOURCE, IMAGE SOURCE ]
Related reading
- PerantiSiswa tablets for B40 students: Everything you need to know, including eligibility and how to apply for one
- PerantiSiswa: Check out the unboxing and start-up screen of the Galaxy Tab A8 tablets for B40 students
- PerantiSiswa: B40 students are no longer required to return tablets after completing their studies
- Here’s the first look at the full PerantiSiswa tablet set – it’s better than expected
