A Sarawak Complex will be developed in Kuala Lumpur to provide students from the state with a place to stay and gather while pursuing their studies in West Malaysia, premier Abang Johari Openg said.
Abang Johari said the complex will not only serve as a hostel, but also as a community hub for Sarawakians to connect with each other, the Borneo Post reported.
“Many Sarawakian students face difficulties in finding a hostel while studying or a suitable place to live after leaving campus.
“Therefore, I have identified land for us to develop a Sarawak building,” he was quoted as saying.
Abang Johari said the complex would also symbolise Sarawak’s growing presence in Kuala Lumpur and serve as a base for state-linked agencies operating in the federal capital.
Abang Johari also said the state government will carry out a comprehensive study on extending free higher education to Sarawakians enrolled in public universities.
Abang Johari acknowledged that expanding the scheme would be challenging, as the state government has no direct authority over federal-funded universities.
“We will look for a suitable approach. These universities have their own management and funding structures under the federal government, so we must study seriously how to intervene,” he was quoted as saying.
From next year, Sarawakian students will be entitled to free education at state-owned private universities, such as University of Technology Sarawak, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and Curtin University Malaysia.
