By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 6: The Sarawak government’s initiative to provide free tertiary education should be viewed as a long-term investment to nurture highly skilled Sarawakians, rather than a financial burden.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) report, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that although the cost to implement the initiative would be significant, he is confident that the State government can cover tuition fees and provide additional financial aid to students.
“We are not just offering free tuition, but also a yearly allowance of RM15,000 for Sarawakian students.
“If we have around 10,000 students, the total expenditure would amount to approximately RM700 million a year, inclusive of the allowance. However, this will not be a burden to the Sarawak government, because this is something we are doing for our children,” he said.
He said this during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering hosted by the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Miri branches at a hotel on April 5.
At the same time, Abang Johari highlighted that education not only improves one’s living standards but can also act as a catalyst to equip Sarawakians with the necessary skills to explore emerging fields and thrive in the modern economy. — DayakDaily
