KUCHING: Sarawak welcomes China government’s offers to give scholarships to Bumiputera students to pursue tertiary education in China.
Welfare, Community Well-being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the state government appreciated the initiatives by the China government.
“The advantage for students to go abroad does not only benefit their studies, but at the same time they are able to learn about another country’s culture and society,” she told New Sarawak Tribune, yesterday.
She said culture and society could not be learned by reading books, but by learning through observation and experience.
“For instance, China is recognised for its fast economy. That can be a learning experience for students when they go there to pick up the people’s good attitude on running their businesses,” she said.
She said an interchange like this would also benefit both countries because it could create better understanding.
When asked if the state government would also provide scholarships to students from China, Fatimah said where there was a need she was sure the government would look into it.
“Sarawak has already accepted doctors from other countries to do their housemanship here to study epidemic diseases in this tropical country of ours. So if there is a need to provide scholarships, why not?,” she said.
On Jan 26, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Cheng Guangzhong, during a Chinese New Year reception mentioned that the scholarships are open to all ethnic groups in Sarawak.
