MIRI - The promise made by Sarawak Premier and Gabungan Parti Sarawak chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg to give free tertiary education to all Sarawakian students in universities in the state must be implemented now and not in 2026.
Sarawak Pakatan Harapan information chief Senator Abun Sui said there was no need for the GPS state government to wait until 2026 for students to enjoy free tertiary education.
Sui, who is also Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy chairman, said Abang Johari must explain why he intends to implement the free tertiary education policy only three years from now when the state government had earlier said it had more than RM40 billion in financial reserves.
"Abang Johari had (last week) publicly announced that the GPS state government will provide free tertiary education for all Sarawakian students studying in state-owned universities starting in 2026.
"While we welcome such a move for free tertiary education, we want it now or for the next semester starting in 2024, not only in 2026 which is still a few years away.
"The Premier must explain why he is making a promise that he can only fulfil in the future.
"Why can’t GPS provide free tertiary education starting next semester?," Sui said in a press statement today.
He reminded Abang Johari and GPS not to make promises for the future as they could easily end up forgotten or not being implemented. - The Vibes, October 9, 2023
