DAP urges quick payment of Free Tertiary Education Scheme stipends for Sarawak students

Chong addressing a press conference in this file photo.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, March 25: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has urged the Sarawak government to immediately disburse the stipend assistance under the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), highlighting growing financial pressures on students.

“It is now more than one month into the first year of their studies, yet according to many students, the State government has yet to pay out the stipend.

“While tuition fees can wait, since the four State-government-owned universities will continue courses without immediate payment, the stipend assistance cannot, as many students rely on it for daily expenses,” he alleged in a statement today.

Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, called on the government to release the stipends promptly to all students entitled to the assistance.

He also emphasised that the FTES should not exclude Sarawakian students studying outside the four State-owned universities, including those in public universities such as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and others, as well as those enrolled in private universities locally or abroad.

“They are also Sarawakians and should not be left behind,” he reiterated.

In the interest of Sarawakian children and families, Chong proposed that the FTES be reviewed to ensure broader support.

He suggested that the State government cover the remaining tuition fees for Sarawakians in public universities, many of whom only pay 10 per cent of their fees due to federal subsidies, which typically range from RM1,200 to RM3,000 per student.

“The government should also consider paying for at least half the tuition fees of all Sarawakian students studying in private universities, both local and abroad,” he recommended.

Additionally, he stressed that students from B40 families, or those with a per capita family income of less than RM1,500, should receive the same annual stipend of RM15,000 currently provided to students in State-owned universities. — DayakDaily