By Amanda L
KUCHING, Sept 30: A total of 128 students from SMK Asajaya have secured places in public universities this year, prompting Asajaya assemblyman Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to pledge continued annual financial incentives to help ease their initial expenses.
According to him, these incentives aim to assist students and their parents in meeting the upfront costs associated with beginning university life, such as purchasing clothing and other essential supplies.
While students occasionally receive aid from organisations like Baitulmal and various foundations, the assemblyman noted that initial admission expenses can still place a heavy financial burden on families.
“This is what we do every year, to give a little incentive as an appreciation because we know those entering university have expenses.
“Although there is assistance sometimes from Baitulmal and foundations, the initial assistance is for buying clothes and supplies to ease the burden on parents and students,” he told reporters after officiating the 2025 Thanksgiving Ceremony for Students Entering Public Universities and the SKOR A Programme in Asajaya today.
Abdul Karim, who also serves as the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), expressed that seeing 128 students enter public universities this year was a profound source of pride.
He noted that SMK Asajaya has consistently recorded more than 100 successful admissions annually in recent years.
He attributed this consistent academic success to the school’s stellar management and administration, particularly praising the principal for maintaining a highly organised educational environment.
“As the elected representative for this area, it gives me immense pride to witness so many of our students gaining admission to public universities,” he added.
Shifting focus to the students’ futures, Abdul Karim also voiced strong support for a proposed alumni association for former SMK Asajaya students who have since graduated from higher education institutions.
He suggested that establishing an official network would excellently connect former students, promising financial assistance from his office should the efforts to form the association materialise.
Given that the school sends over 100 students to higher education annually, he estimated that Asajaya likely boasts hundreds, if not thousands, of university graduates from the past decade or two.
“If there is a concerted effort towards that, we are more than willing to help in terms of funding and so on,” he said.
He reiterated his full backing for the initiative, highlighting its potential to unite Asajaya graduates who have studied at public universities across Malaysia. — DayakDaily
