By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, July 23: The Sarawak government hopes that its Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) will equip the State’s youth with the necessary knowledge and skills to eradicate poverty within the next five to ten years, especially in rural areas.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg underscored the role of education, talent development, and the arts in building self-reliance, stating that these areas are essential to ensure Sarawak can independently manage its industries and economy.
He said this during his speech at the 2025 Sarawak Day Assembly in Miri on Tuesday (July 22).
“Therefore, to ensure that children from low- and middle-income families have access to education up to the university level, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will provide free higher education starting next year for students at four Sarawak government-owned universities,” he said.
The four universities are Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University of Malaysia, University Technology of Sarawak (UTS), and i-CATS University College.
“With this initiative, I am confident that all Sarawakian students taking critical subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) will have the opportunity to pursue their studies at these universities,” he said.
Sarawak governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and federal and State ministers and deputy ministers were among those present at the event. — DayakDaily
