M’sian Students Sell Tablets from PerantiSiswa to Upgrade to an iPad, Condemned by Netizens

If a certain item in a limited quantity is being distributed to people for free, is it fair for those who do not need the item to receive it?

Recently, a student was condemned for attempting to sell a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 on an online marketplace. He had received the tablet for free from PerantiSiswa but wanted to sell it to upgrade to an iPad.

The product listing cited “need to do lots of writing to make notes” as the secondary reason for selling the tablet.

Ungrateful students condemned

After the listing went viral, screenshots of it were widely circulated, attracting the attention of Malaysians. Netizens also shared screenshots of similar listings, indicating that the student who went viral was not an anomaly.

Netizens berated the students for being ungrateful, saying that they should not have applied for PerantiSiswa, an initiative by the government to supply B40 students with electronic devices, if they knew that they wanted an iPad.

“If you know that you want an iPad, don’t apply for PerantiSiswa. There are people who really need it and you’ve stolen their rights.”

“This is the practice we want to reject. The practice of making easy profits,” said one netizen, adding that one has no right to resell the tablet as it was given for free by the government. 

Meanwhile, some accused the students for “stealing” from those who need the free device more than them because they applied for the initiative even though they already owned an iPad.

“As usual, the spoiled rich kids are stealing from the (initiative meant for) less fortunate students,” said another.

Syed Saddiq chimes in

The issue has gained so much traction that politician Syed Saddiq even shared his thoughts about it.

“I looked for the listing but can’t find it. Please don’t sell. The government has given it for your usage and there are many who still need it,” he said in a tweet this afternoon.

Saya cari ad balik, dah tak jumpa.

Janganlah jual. ?

Kerajaan dah bagi untuk guna dan ramai lagi yang memerlukannya.

1/3 pelajar di Malaysia tak ada gajet.

Di Sabah & Sarawak, 1/2 pelajar tak ada.

Boleh serahkan kembali untuk disampaikan kepada mereka yang memerlukan lagi. pic.twitter.com/eEO4bolL5r

— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) October 24, 2022

He added that one third of students in Malaysia and half of students in Sabah and Sarawak do not even own a gadget.

“You can return it so that it can be passed to those who still need it.”

Is it okay to take something that is free just because it is free even when we do not need it?

Also read: Syed Saddiq Urges Gov’t to Take These 3 Steps to Ensure B40 Students Actually Get Their Tablets