Starting next year, Sarawak will spend nearly RM600 million to provide free higher education for its students enrolled in state-owned universities, covering a total of 64 academic programmes.
Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, said the initiative will benefit students studying at Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), Curtin University Malaysia, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, and i-CATS University College.
“Although Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg never made a campaign pledge for free higher education, the state government is committed to implementing it in the interest of Sarawak’s future generations,” he said.
Dr Annuar was speaking at the Central Zone Outreach Programme of the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, held at the Sarawak Islamic Complex Hall and officiated by its minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.