MIRI: The Sarawak government is planning to provide free tertiary education to all Sarawakian students who study at state-owned universities.
“This can be materialised if the state’s revenue continues to increase,” said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Currently, Sarawak owns four higher learning education institutions and one training centre in the state.
The learning institutions are Swinburne University, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), and i-Cats University College, while the training centre is the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs).
“In 2022, Sarawak recorded a revenue of RM12 billion, and for this year, we expect to have a positive revenue performance,” he said at the closing of the Miri City May Fest on Sunday.
This year, he added, Sarawak is targeting to achieve RM11 billion in revenue.
“In the first quarter of this year we have achieved RM5 billion of our 45 per cent projected revenue, and we are expecting it to increase, as we have three more quarters to go,” he said.
He added that with an increase in revenue, the state government would be able to pump more money into the sovereign wealth fund which can be used to provide free tertiary education to all Sarawakians (studying at state-owned universities).
Meanwhile, in responding to Miri Mayor Adam Yii’s request to have Miri City Hall’s building extension over the sea, connecting the main building by a bridge, Abang Johari said an in-depth study would have to be carried out before he approved the planning.
“It is subject to cost … if we can’t go over the sea, perhaps we can do it along the seaside, we will consider,” he said.
