Call to set up institution for leadership education

KUCHING: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) has called for a collaborative effort between Sabah and Sarawak to establish a ‘Borneo School of Economics and Political Science’ to educate and train the next generation of leaders.

This proposal, one of seven resolutions from TSI’s 2nd Borneo States Symposium in July, was submitted to the Sarawak government in August.

TSI chairman Datuk John Tenewi Nuek said after over 60 years of independence, neither Sabah nor Sarawak has developed an institution dedicated to leadership education.

“It’s time we create our own prestigious institution, much like Harvard in the United States or the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore,” he told a press conference here yesterday (Oct 19).

Tenewi explained that the concept of the proposed institution involves a joint collaboration between Sabah and Sarawak, with the institution potentially operating campuses in both states.

However, he said the details still need to be worked out, but the core idea is to train leaders who are well-versed in governance and capable of steering the future of the regions.

He also noted the wide-ranging benefits that such an institution would bring, particularly in elevating the global profile of both states.

“When people think of top educational institutions, they think of Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Cambridge. We want Sarawak and Sabah to have that kind of recognition,” he added.

He also expressed his concern over the lack of critical academic institutions in the region, such as a law school.

“Until recently, Sarawak didn’t even have a law school. We always had to rely on collaborations with external institutions like Swinburne University. But we believe we are capable of doing this on our own,” he added.

According to the resolution report, the concept of the institution is modelled after the London School of Economics and Political Science.

It aims to bridge the gap between these fields, fostering a nuanced understanding of how economic principles and political dynamics intersect and influence each other.

The vision for the institution is to serve as both an educational hub and a think tank, contributing actively to policy discussions and societal progress.

This endeavour, TSI says, aligns with its commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal influence, with the ultimate goal of nurturing a new generation of Sarawakian leaders well-versed in socio-economic and political complexities.

Also present were TSI secretary Goh Leng Yeu and Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa.