BAU: Tasik Biru assemblyman pledged to continue supporting students from his constituency for years to come to ensure that every deserving student received the assistance they needed to pursue higher education.
Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said this when presenting education incentives to 70 students from Bau on Wednesday (Sep 25) at the Education Incentive Presentation programme at the Bau District Office Complex.
The students were the second batch of recipients who had been offered places in higher learning institutions.
The first batch, comprising 22 students, received their incentives last week, bringing the total number of students awarded incentives this year to 92.
“The assistance is timely for the students, many of whom need to travel and register at their respective universities by the end of the month.
“We decided to hand over the incentives much earlier to help them with various needs, be it pocket money, transport, or other expenses,” Henry said.
The incentives, he added, aimed to alleviate the financial burden on students and their families as they prepared for the next stage of their education journey.
Majority of the recipients hailed from SMK Bau and the surrounding areas, with a diverse range of courses awaiting them, including engineering, business, science, political science, and veterinary studies.
Henry also highlighted that seven students were pursuing engineering, which was seen as a promising field for Bau’s future.
“We are proud of the achievements of these students. They are the future of Bau, and we hope they return one day with their degrees and diplomas to contribute to the community,” he said.
He also expressed his hope that by 2030, Bau would experience significant development, both in terms of its physical infrastructure and economic prospects.
He pointed out that by the time these students graduated, Bau would look markedly different, particularly with the full operation of the ICQS RIKIN facility, which would boost the local economy by facilitating cross-border movement between Malaysia and neighbouring countries.
“Bau will definitely benefit from this, and these students will witness the changes when they return,” he added.
In addition to the financial incentives, Henry spoke about upcoming infrastructure projects, including the Bau Sports Arena and Bau Stadium, which would provide residents with better facilities for recreation and sports.
He said that these projects were part of a broader vision to enhance the quality of life in Bau.
This year’s initiative was inclusive, with students from outside his constituency also receiving incentives, albeit in smaller amounts.
Henry went on to encourage neighbouring elected representatives to offer similar support to students in their areas.
“We don’t look at the students’ backgrounds or whether they are from B40 families. We recognise and reward their achievements regardless,” he said.
