Madani book vouchers: 2.2 million students get RM100 each tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — More than 2.2 million students under the Ministry of Education (MOE) will benefit from the MADANI Book Voucher Programme 2026, backed by an allocation of RM221.6 million, with redemption of RM100 e-vouchers beginning tomorrow until Oct 31, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said 2,217,579 recipients comprising students from Remove Class to Form Six, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges and the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM) would benefit from the initiative.

He said voucher redemption, which begins at 10 am tomorrow, will be carried out entirely through the BookCapital platform, which currently has 1,238 registered booksellers.

“This year, the MOE is also introducing the MADANI Special Title Focus, which comprises literary works and classics, as well as general and non-fiction books on history, philosophy, economics, geopolitics and human capital development.

“Priority is also being given to books on future science and technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), information technology, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and digitalisation. Each recipient is required to purchase at least one book from the MADANI Special Title Focus category,” he said during question time.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) on improvements to the programme and the number of students and educators expected to benefit from the MADANI Book Voucher Programme 2026.

Replying to a supplementary question from Salamiah Mohd Nor (PN-Temerloh) on the post-implementation assessment of the programme, Wong said the MOE had conducted evaluations, including gathering feedback from recipients since the initiative was introduced in 2024.

He said an impact study by the Darul Ehsan Institute found that 97.5 per cent of respondents agreed the MADANI Book Voucher had greatly assisted students, particularly those from lower-income households, while 92.2 per cent said it had helped them prepare for examinations.

“The MADANI Book Voucher is implemented entirely online through the BookCapital platform and, after two years of implementation, we have indeed conducted surveys among recipients,” he said.

Wong said the programme also recorded a 100 per cent redemption rate in 2024, demonstrating the effectiveness of its digital implementation.

He said the online book purchasing and delivery system enabled students nationwide, including those in remote areas, to enjoy equal access to reading materials.

“What we have achieved is 100 per cent redemption, 100 per cent transparency and zero leakages. We have also ensured the same books, the same opportunities and the same future for all Malaysian children, regardless of whether they live in urban or remote areas,” he said. — Bernama