The state government will distribute 20,000 smartphones to the heads of B40 low-income households in Perak as early as next month, to complement the "Tuisyen Cikgu Saarani" (TCS) programme.

Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad (above), who is also Kota Tampan assemblyperson, said the provision was aimed at helping poor families in need of smartphones, equipped with applications, to help facilitate their children’s online learning.

He said discussions between the state government and a foundation on the provision of the smartphones had been held for the past three weeks and...