By Tedong Rantayy
MIRI, Fef 22: Sarawak’s government, under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is actively investing in education to nurture young talent for the State’s future.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew emphasised this during the 22nd graduation ceremony of IBS College Miri today.
Ting reiterated the Premier’s commitment to providing accessible education, revealing that from 2026 onwards, free education will be extended to five higher education institutions in Sarawak.
“This initiative is aimed at ensuring that our students have the opportunity to pursue higher education without financial burdens,” he said.
In addition to tuition-free higher education, the government is also providing financial support to students.
“At present, students in Malaysia receive RM1,200 as pocket money, and this initiative is set to continue, benefiting those pursuing diploma programmes and higher education,” he noted.
He also highlighted Sarawak’s strong financial standing under the Premier’s leadership whereby the State’s development budget for this year stands at RM15.8 billion, while revenue has reached RM14.22 billion.
“To put this into perspective, Sarawak’s budget is significantly larger compared to other states, such as Penang and Selangor. This enables us to allocate substantial resources towards education and other development projects,” Ting said.
Ting further referenced the State’s achievement of high-income status in July 2023, as recognised by the World Bank.
He also acknowledged that while Sarawak is financially strong, efforts are still required to ensure that wealth is equitably distributed.
One of the key measures in place is the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) scheme, which provides financial aid to households earning between RM500 and RM2,450 per month. Approximately 886,000 households benefit from this programme.
“The government’s priority is clear – to use available resources to uplift the people, particularly students and low-income households. As we move forward, we remain committed to enhancing opportunities for Sarawakians through education, economic growth, and social welfare initiatives,” Ting concluded.
More than 100 graduates, spanning Diploma, Degree, and Master’s programmes across various fields, received their certificates at the event.
Also present was IBS College CEO Anthony Hii. – DayakDaily
