THE Sarawak state government is reviewing options to extend its free higher education initiative to public universities across Malaysia, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said.
“Many students from other institutions wrote to me after I announced the initiative, expressing their desire to benefit from free higher education as well.
“We need to find an appropriate way to provide free education to Sarawakian students attending public universities because these are managed by the federal government,” he said during a Town Hall session at the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2025 (LBAS 2025) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre today.
He added that the state aims to prevent students from incurring debt through loans, including those from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
“The Sarawak state government helps pay off PTPTN debts for Sarawakian students, amounting to approximately RM30 million a year. If not managed correctly, students could fall into debt. We do not want Sarawakian students to carry financial burdens after graduation,” he said.
Abang Johari also highlighted challenges posed by the centralised university placement process conducted by the University and College Admission Centre (UPU), which can prevent students from pursuing their preferred fields.
“Based on the UPU process, there is a possibility that students will not get their chosen fields. If they apply for one field, they may be placed in another. For Sarawakian students, we want them to study their desired courses and not be forced into alternatives. We will explore solutions to address this issue,” he said.
Previously, the Sarawak Cabinet approved the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which will take effect in 2026. The programme covers Sarawak-based institutions including Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, and i-CATS University College.
FTES offers free tuition and an allowance of RM15,000 per year for students from households with a per capita income of RM1,500 or less. Eligible courses include undergraduate degrees in STEM, Law, Medicine, Accounting, and Finance.
The initiative reflects Sarawak’s commitment to expanding access to higher education while protecting students from financial strain and ensuring they can study in fields aligned with their aspirations. - October 25, 2025
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