By Lian Cheng
SIBU, Nov 7: University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), which is now offering an 80 per cent tuition fee discount for 100 Chinese students and 100 Bumiputera students, will see a historical student intake of 2,000 students in the near future.
This is according to UTS chairman Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, who urged voters to give the mandate to Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) candidates for Lanang, Wong Ching Yong, and Sibu, Clarence Ting, so that they may able to request 100 per cent free tertiary education for Sarawakian students.
Dr Annuar, also Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister, said UTS, a wholly state-owned university and the pride of Sibu, charged RM17,000 per year or RM8,000 per semester for an engineering degree course when he first took over.
To many poor Chinese, Malay and Iban students, the charge was considered too high resulting in low enrolment of students. In 2019 and 2020, only 500 to 600 students were enrolled in the university.
In view of this, Dr Annuar who is also Nangka assemblyman proposed to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for a reduction of the tuition fee by 50 per cent which the Sarawak government agreed.
Dr Annuar said this happened less than a year after he became UTS chairman, where Sarawakian students, regardless of their race, could enjoy a 50 per cent tuition fee discount, meaning they only had to pay RM4,000 per semester.
Despite so, many students from the B40 group still could not afford to go to UTS. Dr Annuar thus proposed an 80 per cent discount for B40 students, and again, the Premier approved.
So UTS now offers an 80 per cent tuition fee discount to 100 Chinese students and 100 Bumiputera students.
He said he would ask for the rest of the 20 per cent when Sibu residents deliver the Lanang and Sibu seats to GPS.
“For those enjoying the 80 per cent discount, the students only have to pay RM1,400 per semester. Where else in the world is the university fee only RM1,400?
“It is not only for Bumiputera. It is for all Sarawakians.
“This is the only State in Malaysia which does not see the skin (colour), whether they are Chinese, Malay, Iban or Bidayuh,” said Dr Annuar at a GPS ceramah (talk) session held in support of Wong Ching Yong and Clarence Ting at Sing Kwong Supermarket here tonight.
He said that presently there are 1,300 students in UTS. However, with the varsity expecting another 700 to enrol, it will see a historical record of 2,000 students in the near future.
He said Abang Johari had, earlier this year, announced the vision of offering free tertiary education for all Sarawakians and the plan is already set in motion. This includes setting up a sovereignty fund, which is meant for future generations to enjoy.
For a certain individual to suggest offering free tertiary education for Sibu students, to Dr Annuar, was not an original idea.
Meanwhile, he called on the Chinese community to support GPS.
“This is the time for the people of Sibu to be united with GPS. I can tell you this is the only party that can unite the people of Sarawak. (There is) no other party. It consists of several races. We are here to be together, to be united, for the future of Sarawak,” said Dr Annuar.
He said presently, there were four elected representatives in Sibu, including Pelawan assemblyman Michael Ting (who is also Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister), Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing (who is the incumbent Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China) as well as Senator Robert Lau.
He urged the voters of Sibu to continue supporting GPS by strengthening the team with two more additions, Clarence Ting and Wong Ching Yong.
Meanwhile, Orthopedic specialist Dr Wong Chya Wei said there is something different about the Sarawak ruling coalition GPS.
He explained how GPS has been different in three aspects: its openness in religion, education, and medical approach. — DayakDaily
