KUCHING: The Sarawak government is currently searching for a suitable site to construct a building to accommodate Sarawakian students studying in Kuala Lumpur.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the location would also have easy access to public transportation to facilitate students’ travel to their respective universities.
He said once the site has been identified, the building will be constructed using funds fully provided by the Sarawak government.
Sarawakian students taking a wefie with Abang Johari. Photo: UKAS
“We are looking for a suitable site where the distance is not far, and there is access to public transportation. This way, the cost won’t be expensive,” he said during a ‘Sesi Berambeh Anak Sarawak’ event held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) campus in Bangi in conjunction with the inauguration ceremony of the Sheikh Othman Sarawak Endowment Chair, today (Oct 25).
In response to a question from a student, Abang Johari said that the Sarawak government would consider a proposal to sponsor medical faculty students at UKM.
He said that he had instructed the State Secretary to assess the financial implications and feasibility of the initiative, where sponsored students would be required to return to serve in Sarawak after completing their studies.
Abang Johari (seated, centre) during the ‘Sesi Berambeh Anak Sarawak’ at UKM campus in Bangi, Selangor. Photo: UKAS
In related developments, he noted that the Sarawak Foundation (Yayasan Sarawak) was sponsoring 40 medical students each year to further their studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). This is to fulfill the need for local doctors to serve in hospitals and clinics throughout Sarawak, particularly in rural areas.
On a related subject, he said that Sarawak would build its own cancer centre at a cost exceeding RM1 billion, equipped with over 300 beds.
“We will construct it using our own funds, and the federal government will reimburse us later. It has been approved by the federal government,” added the Premier.
Present at the event were State Secretary Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sarawak Islamic Council chairman Datuk Misnu Taha, UKM Board of Directors chairman Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Abd Razak and UKM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman.
