By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 21: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong is calling on Yayasan Sarawak to make the ‘Yayasan Sarawak B40/M40 Bursary Scheme’ open to all races in Sarawak.
According to Yong, she came across an advertisement for Curtin University Malaysia’s ‘Yayasan Sarawak B40/M40 Bursary Scheme’, which states that it is only for Sarawakian Bumiputeras.
“I was shocked upon reading this advertisement.
“When I saw this, I recalled that not long ago, at the ‘Yayasan Sarawak 50th Anniversary dinner’, the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg made a speech claiming that Yayasan Sarawak is not just for Bumiputeras.
“Yayasan Sarawak is the Sarawak Foundation, which is for all Sarawakians; therefore, when this type of advertisement appears, it’s evidence that what’s being practised is the opposite and it’s not what the Premier had claimed,” she said today at a press conference at the Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters (HQ) here.
Yong pointed out that the current economic situation affects all races, not just Bumiputeras.
“I would like to emphasise that if Sarawak truly adheres to the principle of meritocracy, does not engage in racism, and is serious about preventing brain drain, then the Sarawak government, through Yayasan Sarawak, should provide equal opportunities to all youths, regardless of race, to benefit from this bursary scheme to study at Curtin University.
“The advertisement was so clear that it’s only for Bumiputeras in Sarawak, so I’m asking, is that what we want? Is this the practice of Yayasan Sarawak?
“Abang Johari claimed that Yayasan Sarawak is for all, so why is this bursary scheme only exclusively for a certain group and not for all?” she questioned, calling on Abang Johari to put an end to these types of practices.
Yong went on to say that the public is happy that Yayasan Sarawak is helping the B40 and M40 families but it should make the bursary scheme open for all races. — DayakDaily
