SIBU: All students will get the same opportunities to be enrolled at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), said Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
Dr Annuar, who is also the UTS chairman, denied all the news reports that said Liana Sari Santud’s acceptance to UTS was because of his intervention or Liana’s appeal via social media.
“There is no (tiktok) appeal that makes her successful (accepted to UTS). There was no intervention by me either to make her successful in being given a seat.
“Don’t be confused. She got the seat (to study at UTS) because she passed her examination,” he stressed at a press conference at the UTS campus here today (July 8).
Elaborating, the Nangka assemblyman said that Liana had initially applied for a Bachelor of Accountancy for the February 2024 intake but subsequently changed her mind to go for this September’s intake.
Meanwhile, on the UTS Bursary Scheme, Dr Annuar assured that Liana will get 50 per cent financial assistance, just like other Sarawakians.
However, he said that the 30 per cent financial assistance from Yayasan Sarawak depends on whether she passes the requirements set by the foundation, as it is only limited to 100 students.
“There is also the Toh Li Hua Foundation or the Farley Foundation. I will talk to them; they might be able to help,” he said.
In this regard, Dr Annuar hoped the public was not confused that applicants could get into a university by appealing via social media or merely with his help.
“Admission should be based on the qualifications of the student. She has all that. She completed her Foundation in Art programme at UTS with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.11,” he said.
Meanwhile, when asked about Liana’s concern about whether she can take the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) examination, which is compulsory for her degree, without having an identification card, Dr Annuar said it should not be a problem.
“Since you can take your Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), then you should be able to take the MUET examination as well. They are under the same body,” he said.
