SARAWAK’s state deputy education minister has publicly shot down allegations that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) administration is going to use its free tertiary education plan as a "bait" to entice young voters for the next state election due by 2026.
Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee acknowledged that the government has set a time by 2026 to make it a policy but denies that it is to coincide with the polls.
"The state government will implement free tertiary education as a policy before the 2026 state election.
"Even though the next state election is indeed in 2026, we (GPS) are not using that (free tertiary education plan) to get votes.
"It is not a political gimmick but our political will to help young Sarawakians," said Dr Annuar, who is also deputy state minister for innovation and talent development, in his social media discussions with constituents in Sibu today.
Dr Annuar is vice-president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of the GPS coalition.
He said GPS needs time and cannot make free tertiary education a policy right now.
"It is our initiative that before the 2026 state polls, our Sarawak students will get free tertiary education in state-owned higher education institutions.
"This will be of great help, particularly for rural students," he said.
This is the first time that a GPS leader had openly denied the link between the intended policy and the 2026 state polls.
The deadline for the dissolution of current state legislative assembly is December 18, 2026, as the last state polls were held on December 18, 2021.
Dr Annuar had on November 22 already confirmed that the government will offer free tertiary education for Sarawakians in five higher education bodies owned by the state starting 2026.
He told the assembly that some 4,000 students in each of the five institutes of higher learning in Sarawak owned by the state government may qualify.
They are Curtin University Malaysia in Miri, Swinburne University of Technology in Kuching, University of Technology in Sibu, I-CATS University College in Kuching, and Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak in Kuching.
"This plan for the free tertiary education for Sarawakians in these five institutes requires very careful and thorough study. It will start only in 2026 for year-two and year-three students.
"It requires a lot of money, requires a lot of new infrastructure like lecture halls, hostels, new lecturers, and teaching support staffs," he had said in reply to Bawang Assan state assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.
Sarawak Pakatan Harapan information chief Senator Abun Sui had in October asked Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg why he had earlier that month made the promise of free tertiary education that can only be fulfilled three years from now.
He said that there is no need for Johari and the GPS government to wait until then – unless of course it is just another enticement for the state polls, Sui had said.
Sui, who is also Sarawak PKR deputy chairman, said Johari must explain to the public why he intends to implement the policy in only three years when the state under GPS is supposedly loaded with more than RM40 billion in financial reserves.
Johari had on October 1 said in Simanggang town that the income of the state had shot upwards every year and ncreased by RM12 billion in 2022 alone.
"I can commit to giving free tertiary education to Sarawakian students in Sarawak-owned universities by 2026. I predict we will have the money," he had claimed.
Until today, Johari and Dr Annuar have not explained why Sarawakians studying in other Malaysian universities will not be given free education and why only the five state-owned institutions inside Sarawak are chosen. – The Vibes, December 29, 2023
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