SIBU, Oct 14: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government owes an explanation to the people of Sarawak on why the education funds for Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) for 2020 has been so drastically reduced, according to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Dudong chief, Wong Ching Yong.
He criticised the PH government for blowing hot and cold over its fund allocations to Sarawak in the recently announced 2020 budget.
“Although Sarawak appears to be receiving a bigger allocation in development expenditure, Unimas only received a grant amounting to RM17,469,900 in 2020.
“Comparing this with 2019, when it received RM42,275,000, the amount is a reduction of RM24,805,100 which represents a 58 per cent decrease in fund allocation,” he disclosed in a statement.
He made these remarks during a “ceramah” held in the Bukit Lima residential area yesterday (Oct 13),
Wong who is also a chartered accountant by profession pointed out the Universiti Malaysia Sabah received RM43,000,000 under the 2020 budget as compared t0 RM28,000,000 in 2019 and the additional allocation represents a 153 per cent increment.
According to Wong, Unimas was ranked No. 236 in the QS Asian University Rankings on December 24, 1992, and has a total enrolment of about 18,000. — DayakDaily
