PEKAN: The Pahang government has, for the first time, taken the initiative to provide free reference and exercise books to candidates sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examinations statewide this year.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the books were distributed to 23,784 candidates across all 11 districts at no cost, regardless of their social or economic background.

"This is the first time we are executing the programme under the Pahang Makmur Initiative to help candidates excel in their examinations.

"We realised that not all students have access to additional reference books at home or can afford to purchase them apart from those provided by the ministry or schools.

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"The reference and exercise books were written by teachers who are subject matter experts, in consultation with the Education Ministry, and aligned with the current syllabus and examination format. We have already begun distributing the books to schools in Pahang," he told reporters after launching the Pahang Makmur Initiative at SM Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah here today.

Wan Rosdy said the state government has allocated RM2.5 million this year to prepare the reference and exercise books.

"This year, we prepared books for four core subjects, namely Bahasa Melayu, English, Science, and Mathematics. We will gather feedback from the Pahang Education Department and other stakeholders before deciding whether to expand the materials to additional subjects next year.

"We will continue this initiative next year, either by maintaining the same number of subjects or possibly expanding it. We hope candidates will make full use of the books to better prepare for their examinations," he said.