MIRI - The announcement last week by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg on free tertiary education for Sarawakians is only at the proposal and planning stage, said State Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
The state government has not made this a policy yet as it needs to be planned thoroughly since huge financial investments are required, he said today.
Dr Annuar told reporters in Sibu that not all Sarawakians everywhere will be entitled to free tertiary education either.
Under the plan, he said, it is only those Sarawakian students studying in five institutes of higher learning in Sarawak owned by the state government who can qualify - 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 needs a lot of money, new infrastructure like lecture halls, hostels, lecturers and teaching support staff.
"We are not making empty promises but we cannot rush into it as we need time to make sure it is carefully planned," he said.
Dr Annuar was responding to Sarawak Pakatan Harapan information chief Senator Abun Sui who asked why Abang Johari had last week announced a promise that can only be fulfilled three years from now.
Sui, who is also Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy chairman, said Johari must explain to the public why he intends to implement the free tertiary education policy only three years from now when the state government under GPS is supposedly cash-rich with more than RM40 billion in financial reserves.
"Though it is planned for implementation only in 2026, we have two to three years from now to work on the plan. We don't want to rush or else it will be only a half-baked project," said Dr Annuar. - The Vibes, October 10, 2023
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