Sarawak on track to become leading education hub by 2035, says deputy minister

LIMBANG (April 2): Sarawak is on track to emerge as one of Malaysia’s leading education hubs by 2035, said deputy minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.

Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also the Bukit Kota assemblyman, highlighted the state government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector through the establishment of the State Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, which serves as a dedicated platform to address Sarawak’s education needs.

“Education remains a priority for Sarawak, even though it falls under the federal government, making it a key agenda under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said during an Aidilfitri open house at SK Melayu Pusat on Tuesday.

He noted that the Science stream and STEM-related fields — comprising Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — are crucial in supporting Sarawak’s economic transformation.

These include emerging sectors such as renewable energy, hydrogen development, the semiconductor industry and satellite technology.

Dr Abdul Rahman emphasised that collaboration among teachers, parents and the community is equally important in nurturing a skilled and future-ready generation, with continuous commitment needed to advance education development in Limbang.

Touching on the event, he described it as a platform to foster ties among the multiracial community, stressing that unity remains Sarawak’s greatest strength.

At the gathering, he also announced several allocations for SK Melayu Pusat, including RM30,000 for the purchase of smart televisions, RM5,000 as an annual grant, and the construction of a covered walkway scheduled for next year.

Also present were Limbang District Education Officer representative Mahani Montel, school headmaster representative Norpiah Salleh, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman Khairul Amree Abdul Rahman, PTA deputy chairperson Mastura Ismail, school liaison officer Dayang Diana Abang Ibrahim, and Limbang Division religious education officer Ustaz Suhaini Abdul Karim.