Kelantan Allocates RM747,000 As Excellence Incentives To 1,494 Students

KOTA BHARU, June 28 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan government has allocated RM747,000 as excellence incentives for 1,494 students who achieved outstanding results in last year's Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examinations.

Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said each student received RM500 as a token of appreciation from the state government for their academic excellence.

He said the number of top-performing students rose this year from 1,300 last year, showing an upward trend in the state's educational performance.

"Education remains a top priority for the state government, which is why we are committed to a large allocation to ensure educational development, including schools under the Kelantan Islamic Foundation (YIK), continues to be empowered," he said.

He told reporters this after presenting the 2025 Examination Excellence Awards at the Kota Darulnaim Complex here today.

Mohd Nassuruddin said that, in addition to the excellence incentives, the state government provides education loans through the Kelantan Darulnaim Foundation (YAKIN) for Kelantanese children pursuing higher education, adding that these loans will be converted into scholarships if students achieve excellent results at university.

At the event, Siti Maisarah Yahya Lotfi, a student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato' Biji Wangsa, Tumpat, received a special award after being named the National-Level Best Overall STPM 2025 Student.

Meanwhile, commenting on the land ownership issue involving settlers in the South Kelantan Development Authority (KESEDAR) area in Gua Musang, Mohd Nassuruddin said the state government has directed the Kelantan Forestry Department and the state Land and Mines Office (PTG) to thoroughly review the matter.

He said an immediate investigation is necessary to identify the actual facts before any decision is made regarding claims that the land ownership status was allegedly changed to a forest reserve.

The media previously reported that over 100 settlers at the KESEDAR Chalil Land Development Scheme (RKT) in Gua Musang expressed disappointment when the land they had cultivated for nearly 20 years was seized because it fell within a forest reserve area.

-- BERNAMA