Kuala lumpur: A Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student who survived last month’s fatal bus crash in Gerik has finally received a long-awaited education loan from Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), ending a two-year wait. Nur Ain Najwa Mohd Ilias, 23, expressed her gratitude after MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki personally delivered the offer letter during a visit to her family home in Kampung Gong Kemuntong.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nur Ain Najwa had applied for the loan twice since enrolling at UPSI, but encountered technical issues that led to the rejection of her applications. She shared her story during a visit by the Girl Guides Malaysia (Terengganu branch), led by its president Tengku Puteri Daulath Raja Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra Sultan Mizan.
Amid the tragic circumstances of the bus crash, Nur Ain Najwa received an unexpected relief with the loan approval. She also revealed that her younger twin brothers, who had postponed their university education to support her, were promised MARA assistance if they are accepted into higher learning institutions.
As the second of six siblings, Nur Ain Najwa highlighted that the loan includes a RM800 monthly living allowance, which will help ease her family’s financial strain. Previously, she depended on her brothers and part-time jobs, along with aid from the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM), to cover her tuition fees.
Nur Ain Najwa, an Arabic Language and Education student, chose not to apply for a National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan, having already utilized one during her diploma studies at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). Her twin brothers, Muhammad Hassan and Muhammad Hussin, are now planning to pursue higher education, with applications to Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), respectively.
Nur Ain Najwa, who suffered a fractured left shoulder and a sprained right wrist in the crash, gained attention after sharing her family’s struggles with Asyraf Wajdi during his visit to Gerik Hospital. The June 9 accident involved a chartered bus carrying 45 UPSI students and a Perodua Alza, resulting in 15 fatalities and 33 injuries, affecting both drivers and passengers.