By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Feb 19: Sarawak-owned universities are open for every student in Malaysia, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said they are not only for Sarawakians, but also students from Sabah and the peninsula who wish to come to Sarawak to further their studies.
“It is meant for everybody, and of course, since they are international (universities) in nature, we in Sarawak emphasise on Bahasa Malaysia and English as mandatory subjects,” he said.
Abang Johari said this during the closing ceremony of 14th edition of the Malaysia State Foundation Inter-State Sports Festival (Pesaya) held at Borneo Convention Center (BCCK) today.
On Oct 5 2022, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government fully owned four universities that are not tied to the Central University Admission Unit (UPU) to enable Sarawakians to have better access to higher education.
Meanwhile, when explaining why Sarawak recognises Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), he said Sarawak recognises the high standards of Chinese schools especially in the teaching of Mathematics.
However, he also said Sarawak recognises UEC with the condition that it is a must to have credit in the Bahasa Malaysia subject.
Apart from that, he continued, another advantage is to enable non-Chinese students to learn the Mandarin language.
“Since we have an open economic policy, our children who understand the Mandarin language will be at an advantage because they will know what is being discussed.
“If they do not understand it, as Sarawakians say it, they will ‘terngangak’ (baffled) only,” he added.
Abang Johari had pledged to continue to recognise UEC and provide financial aid to Chinese schools in Sarawak, continuing one of the key policies of his predecessor, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
Recognising the UEC qualifications of independent Chinese school students was one of the key policies which Adenan had stood up for.
Also present were Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Yayasan Sarawak director Mersal Abang Rosli and other distinguished guests. – DayakDaily
