Premier: Sarawak govt to study ways to extend aid to trainees under federal skills programmes

Abang Johari (front row, fifth left), flanked by Fadillah (fourth left) and Nanta, joins other dignitaries for a group photo during LBAS 2025 on Oct 25, 2025. Photo credit: Sarawak Information Department (JaPen)

By Shikin Louis

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25: The Sarawak government will look into ways to assist Sarawakians undergoing skills and technical training programmes under federal ministries who are currently not eligible for Yayasan Sarawak’s education aid.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg took note of a participant undergoing the TVET Instructor (TVET-I) training and currently teaching in a skills institution, who highlighted that trainees in such programmes do not receive assistance such as free laptops, book vouchers or financial support offered to other Yayasan Sarawak students.

In response, he explained that the State’s education assistance is, by convention, designed for school and university students, while training centres funded by federal ministries such as the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) fall outside the policy framework.

He added that several ministries and agencies, including the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) under the Ministry of Works (MoW), also run their own skills training and certification programmes.

“Therefore, as a matter of policy, we do not usually take into account training conducted by agencies.

“But I will find a way to see how we can help those undergoing training under these agencies,” he said during the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak (LBAS) 2025 town hall session held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here today.

Abang Johari said the feasibility of extending such aid must be studied carefully, citing CIDB as an example where its programmes involve practical training such as operating heavy machinery like tractors, which often entails high equipment costs.

He assured that the Sarawak government will study the matter and identify feasible ways to support trainees under different ministries and agencies, particularly in providing strategic equipment or tools needed for their training.

“We will see what can be done to help those under various ministries and agencies. Perhaps we can structure the assistance similar to what we provide to small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” he added.

Among those present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof; Sarawak’s Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Federal Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi who serves as LBAS 2025 chairman; Federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dato Sri Nancy Shukri; and Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki. — DayakDaily