By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 14: A medical training pathway under a Sarawak–Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) collaboration has recorded an underfilled intake after only 30 students qualified out of a targeted 50 Sarawakian placements annually.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), Sarawak Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the State is working closely with the university to provide dedicated opportunities for Sarawakian students to pursue medical studies under the programme.
However, he said the latest intake fell short of expectations.
“We are working with Unimas to send Sarawakian students to pursue medical studies. We target 50 students a year, but this year only 30 qualified.
“The question is, where are the other 20? They did not appear in the list of qualified candidates. This is a loss because the opportunity provided cannot be fully utilised,” he said during the closing ceremony of the UKAS Community Randau Programme 2025 at Kampung Menjau in Siburan yesterday (June 13).
He stressed that despite the availability of structured pathways for Sarawakian students, the shortfall indicates that not enough candidates are meeting the required standards for entry into the programme.
Beyond the medical field, Roland said Sarawak continues to expand education opportunities through various initiatives, including 64 free courses and new emerging fields such as aerospace, as part of its long-term talent development agenda.
In a separate development, he also highlighted Sarawak’s ambition to harness its rich biodiversity as a foundation for developing its own pharmaceutical capabilities.
He said the State is intensifying scientific research efforts, noting that Sarawak’s natural resources hold significant potential for medical and drug development.
“We want more research to be carried out by local scientists and researchers because there are still many materials in our biodiversity that can be used for medical purposes,” he said.
“We have the aspiration to produce our own medicines so that one day, new treatments and discoveries for diseases like rabies can be developed in Sarawak.”
He added that the proposed Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) will serve as a dedicated hub for research into infectious diseases, vaccine development and medical innovation, bringing together experts to strengthen the State’s healthcare research ecosystem.
Roland also said Sarawak will host the S’HInE Conference in September, which will gather local and international experts to discuss advancements in health research and infectious disease control.
“Through this conference, we hope more research collaborations can be established, paving the way for the development of medicines and medical innovations originating from Sarawak,” he said.
Also present were UKAS director Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan, Serian Division Acting Resident Abdul Khalid Manap, Siburan District Officer Ranum Bari, Serian District Officer representative Jeff Currant James Engkapan, and Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak Damen Rejek, among others. — DayakDaily
