OUCCI lauds emphasis on technical and financial courses in free tertiary education

KUCHING: The Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI) has praised Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent commitment to prioritise technical and financial courses in the forthcoming free tertiary education.

Describing this prioritisation as a ‘master stroke,’ OUCCI chairman Datuk Mutang Tagal hailed the move as a brilliant strategy given the evolving landscape where technology is progressively dominating industries.

He noted that technology is set to take over jobs that humans might not be inclined to do, underlining the significance of focusing on technical education.

“Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not replace humans, we will use AI to replace jobs that most humans don’t want to do.

“This is where focus on technical education becomes very necessary,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted today (Dec 28).

With the world heading towards automation and data-driven decision-making, Tagal stressed the importance of nurturing Sarawak’s youth in multifaceted technical disciplines, strategically positioning them to head these industries.

“So this free education will give them a head start in pursuing the relevant technical courses that will spearhead Sarawak as a leader in the region,” he added.

Mutang said it is important for Sarawakians to be tech-savvy as daily transactions in various sectors heavily rely on technology

“So young Sarawakians trained in financial disciplines will be able to get jobs in the financial industry and the technology sector,” he added.

Abang Johari has recently said that intakes into Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning will give priority to students taking up technical and financial disciplines when free tertiary education starts in 2026.

He said students taking up disciplines, such as engineering, accountancy, cyber analysis, cyber law and computer science, will then have better chances of securing employment.

“We don’t want more students to take up non-technical disciplines because they will not find it easy to get jobs after graduating,” he said.