By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 4: Former Padungan Assemblyman Wong King Wei has welcomed Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s agreement in principle to consider expanding the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) to include eligible Sarawakian students pursuing their studies at public universities located within Sarawak.
Wong said the Premier’s proposal to extend the benefits of FTES beyond Sarawak-owned higher education institutions to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Sarawak Campus reflects the Sarawak Government’s commitment to reducing the financial burden of higher education, investing in future generations, and developing local talent.
He described the proposal as an encouraging development, stressing that access to higher education should not be determined by a family’s financial circumstances.
However, Wong emphasised that free higher education is not merely about who pays the tuition fees, but also about who is given the opportunity to enter university in the first place.
“The Sarawak Government’s willingness to bear the university tuition fees of Sarawakians is certainly encouraging. However, if a Sarawakian student holding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) cannot fairly apply for admission to a public university in Sarawak based on his or her academic qualifications, that student may still be unable to benefit from the scheme, even if the Sarawak Government is prepared to pay the tuition fees.”
He pointed out that admission policies for federal public universities fall within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government.
Since the Sarawak Government has demonstrated its commitment to inclusive higher education, the Federal Government should respond by ensuring that its university admission policies complement Sarawak’s initiative.
Wong noted that the UEC has long been accepted by numerous universities overseas, including institutions in the United Kingdom and Australia, demonstrating that the academic qualifications of UEC holders have gained international recognition.
“If universities around the world can assess and accept the UEC based on academic standards, why can’t our own public universities establish a clear, fair and reasonable framework to accept the UEC as one of the qualifications for university admission?”
He said the longstanding controversy surrounding the UEC involves not only academic recognition, but also national education policies and political differences. Such differences, however, should not become obstacles preventing the next generation from pursuing higher education.
“Let politics remain politics, and let education remain education. Our children should not have to bear the consequences of political differences.”
Wong stressed that accepting the UEC as a university admission qualification does not mean abolishing academic requirements or granting UEC holders automatic admission without undergoing the normal selection process.
Instead, the Federal Government can establish transparent, reasonable and consistent academic assessment standards, allowing qualified UEC holders to compete for university places on their academic merits, just like students from other educational streams.
He acknowledged that the Federal Government had previously announced pathways for UEC holders to enter public higher education institutions, although these arrangements remain subject to certain conditions.
He therefore urged the Federal Government to further clarify and implement these admission pathways to ensure they are genuinely accessible and effective, rather than remaining merely policy announcements.
“The Sarawak Government is opening the door to free higher education. The Federal Government must ensure that academically qualified Sarawakians have a fair opportunity to walk through that door.”
Wong further suggested that if the Federal Government remains unable to fully accept the UEC as an admission qualification for public universities nationwide, it should at least consider implementing an appropriate arrangement in Sarawak first.
He proposed that the Federal Ministry of Higher Education initiate discussions with the Sarawak Government and draw upon Sarawak’s experience in recognising the UEC.
Such discussions should explore a framework allowing Sarawakian UEC holders to use their qualifications as one of the academic credentials for admission into public universities located within Sarawak.
Those who meet the relevant university admission requirements and FTES eligibility criteria should then be able to benefit from Sarawak’s free higher education policy.
“If nationwide reform continues to face political resistance, then let us begin with Sarawak.”
“The Sarawak Government has already demonstrated its willingness to bear the cost of university education for Sarawakians. The Federal Government should, at the very least, provide the necessary institutional cooperation within its jurisdiction to enable Sarawak to implement higher education policies that reflect its own social needs and diverse educational background.”—DayakDaily
