KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Sarawak government is studying the best way to channel the RM15,000 annual stipend to Sarawakian students across all public universities nationwide.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the state had already decided to provide the aid to students from lower-income families at four state-owned universities to help with their living and study costs.
The four universities are Universiti Teknologi Sarawak, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, and i-CATS University College.
“The Sarawak government will study a method to channel similar aid to Sarawak students attending public universities across the country, including University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS),” he said in a speech at UNIMAS’s 29th Convocation Ceremony here today.
Abang Johari, who is also UNIMAS Pro Chancellor, said the state government was committed to improving education through various initiatives, including providing free tertiary education at state-owned universities starting next year.
“The Sarawak government places great importance on education as a key to eradicating poverty and improving the standard of living for the people in this state, and all young people should be given the opportunity to pursue higher education,” he said.
The state government is also providing financial aid of RM1,200 per year for Sarawakian students studying at any public or private institution of higher learning.
“This initiative is part of the government’s effort to understand the financial burden faced by students, especially those from low-income families,” he said.
In an effort to ease the cost of living for students, he said the state government also introduced the Sarawak Residential Rental Assistance Scheme, which provides RM200 per month to university students renting in major cities such as Kuching, Samarahan, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri.
“In addition, the Sarawak government also provides additional aid such as book vouchers and laptops to students from low-income families,” he said.
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