KUCHING, Dec 29: Yayasan Sarawak should take the lead in taking care of the education needs of Sarawakians by offering loans that can be converted into scholarships for outstanding academic performance.
Senator Abun Sui Anyit expressed this hope as he applauded the Sarawak government through Yayasan Sarawak for settling 30 per cent of the debts owed by Sarawakian students to the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) with a total payment of RM90.42 million.
“Congratulations to Yayasan Sarawak and the Sarawak government.
“We hope that in the future, Yayasan Sarawak can extend financial support in the form of loans, which could be transformed into scholarships for students who excel in their academic pursuits,” he said in a statement posted on his social media yesterday (Dec 28).
Having been a beneficiary of Yayasan Sarawak’s full sponsorship throughout his schooling and university years, Abun Sui underscored the significance of these contributions in ensuring that children have access to the highest quality education.
“Yayasan Sarawak plays a pivotal role as a driver of human capital development and a catalyst for Sarawak. It needs to be comprehensive across all ethnicities in Sarawak,” he emphasised.
It was reported yesterday that over 25,000 PTPTN Sarawakian students have benefitted from the incentive in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between PTPTN and Yayasan Sarawak in 2021.
PTPTN chairman Datuk Norliza Abdul Rahim emphasised that as part of the collaboration, the Sarawak government will continue to provide financial assistance for Sarawakian students by covering up to 30 per cent of the outstanding balance on PTPTN loans for borrowers who have already repaid at least 30 per cent of their loan debts.
Additionally, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced last month, when tabling the Sarawak Budget 2024, that RM30 million would be allocated to assist Sarawakian graduates in repaying their study loan debts. — DayakDaily
