KUCHING: Many people have the misconception that Yayasan Sarawak, or the Sarawak Foundation, is solely for Bumiputera and Malay.
According to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, the foundation provides scholarships and assistance to people of all races who are Sarawakians.
“The Chinese representation on the foundation’s board is Datuk William Lee Bong Tong.
“When we want to provide scholarships, the application is discussed in the board because we want to be fair to all members of the community,” he said at the Sarawak Foundation’s 50th Anniversary at Pullman Hotel here, yesterday.
Abang Johari, who is also Sarawak Foundation’s chairman, stated that some individuals make it seem like the foundation is exclusively for Bumiputera and Malay people when, in fact, the board is made up of people of all races.
He also claimed that Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian was also unaware that Lee served on the foundation’s board.
“When I questioned Dr Sim if he knew Lee was on the board, he responded he had no idea. Even the minister was surprised to learn that the Sarawak Foundation has a Chinese representative.
“I want to emphasise this so that people get the appropriate information about Sarawak Foundation,” he pointed out.
Speaking on the foundation’s scholarships and assistance, Abang Johari noted that since its inception in 1971, it had aided about 1.83 million Sarawakians.
It includes 2,825 students from the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) in Sibu, 3,165 from the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), 8,853 from Curtin University as well as 7,427 from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak.
“We need to truly look at and figure out where Sarawak Foundation should go in the next 50 years. We must intervene in our efforts to educate and provide talent to the people as the economy and development evolve.
“I admit that the national education policy isn’t good enough — it’s okay some of the time, but not all of the time.
“Therefore, we must have certain alternatives in order to provide good education to the people of Sarawak so that they can improve themselves in keeping with the current economy and technological development around the world,” he stressed.
