By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Oct 27: Sarawak will offer scholarships for Muslim children from less developed countries across Borneo and the Pacific region to study at its planned international Islamic school.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the school, backed by a RM400 million allocation, would provide access to quality education for children from these communities.
“As chairman of the Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of Southeast Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP), I have visited Vanuatu in Fiji, where we saw that Muslim children, due to the less developed economic conditions in these countries, are in need of assistance,” he said.
Abang Johari said this when officiating the Tilawah Al-Quran Bandaraya Se-Borneo at the Sarawak Islamic Complex tonight.
He said Sarawak would provide places for children from these regions to study at the school, with scholarships to support their education.
The school would allow Muslim children from Sarawak and other regions to interact and exchange knowledge.
“We will bring together those who are knowledgeable, skilled and have potential with other Muslim children, including our own children in Sarawak, so that they can mix and learn from one another,” he said.
He also added the school would combine Islamic studies with the Cambridge syllabus, equipping students with international language skills while strengthening their understanding of Islam.
This would prepare graduates to continue Islamic outreach within their respective communities and contribute to their countries’ development, he said.
“I believe that when we help others in this way, Allah will help us in return,” he said.
He said the initiative reflected Sarawak’s commitment to sharing its peace and prosperity with communities across Borneo and beyond.
He added that greater solidarity among Muslims could help communities overcome poverty and strengthen their ability to compete with developed nations. — DayakDaily
