By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, July 24: The introduction of a 50 per cent scholarship for all students and an additional 80 per cent scholarship specifically for those from the B40 or lower income group has significantly increased the representation of B40 students at University Technology Sarawak (UTS) from just 8 per cent previously to nearly 40 per cent today.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development and chairman of the UTS Board of Directors, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, said this inclusive financial aid initiative was part of a broader effort to break the perception that UTS was only accessible to high-income earners due to its tuition fees.
“When I was first appointed UTS Chairman in 2021, the university faced many challenges, especially the misconception that it was an elite institution only for those who could afford it,” he said during the UTS Appreciation Dinner held on Wednesday (July 23).
He explained that the perception stemmed not from any exclusive policy, but from the financial constraints the university faced as a new institution struggling to cover operational costs.
“During the Sarawak Election, I was confronted by individuals who claimed that UTS, though funded by the government, was out of reach for low-income groups.
“I discussed this seriously with vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin and we acknowledged that most students then were from high-income families. But we couldn’t blame the university as they were trying to survive. Running a university is expensive,” he emphasised.
Seeing the urgent need to change this perception and ensure equal access to higher education, Dr Annuar and the UTS management proposed the scholarship scheme to the Sarawak government.
The result showed that student numbers soared from around 1,000 to over 4,000 today, with projections to reach 5,000 by year-end which is UTS’ current capacity limit.
“More significantly, the percentage of B40 students enrolled jumped from a mere eight per cent to nearly 40 per cent, demonstrating the effectiveness of a people-centric, inclusive approach,” he added.
Commenting on Sarawak’s move to offer free tertiary education starting next year, Dr Annuar hailed it as a bold and historic step in empowering the State’s human capital.
“Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has said he never promised free education, but we are delivering it anyway.
“No other state in Malaysia, not even the richest, can rival what Sarawak is doing in the next 10 years,” he said.
Dr Annuar urged all parties to continue supporting UTS, saying it must not only strive to become the best university in Sarawak, but also compete at national and international levels.
Also present at the dinner were UTS vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab. Hamid and deputy vice chancellor Prof Ir Ts Dr Mohd Shahril Osman. — DayakDaily
