Sarawak prioritises skilled engineers through free tertiary education to drive State’s growth

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By Dayangku Hidayatul

KUCHING, Dec 20: Sarawak is prioritising the cultivation of skilled engineers to support the State’s growth, particularly by providing free tertiary education for Anak Sarawak at local universities.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg highlighted that the initiative is part of the State’s strategy to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of driving Sarawak’s progress.

“We have to work hard, including producing more engineers through free education, and you can see the list of courses we have selected,” he said when speaking at the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak Branch Annual Dinner 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night (Dec 19).

Abang Johari outlined that Sarawak now offers 64 courses, primarily in science and engineering, across institutions such as University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Curtin University Malaysia, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, and i-CATS University College, with specialised programmes including aerospace technology.

“I hope that with our unity and determination to advance Sarawak, IEM, with your support, we can transform the State into a leading region in Asia,” he added.

He also linked the development of skilled engineers to Sarawak’s economic growth. By 2030, the State aims to produce 10 gigawatts of renewable energy, generating a surplus for export to Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore.

“We must diversify our economic base. We cannot rely solely on gas if we want to increase our revenue,” he said.

Abang Johari further identified four key frontiers for Sarawak’s future: renewable energy, the gas hub, semiconductors, and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).

“These will be the new frontiers, paving the way for Sarawak to become a leading force in ASEAN,” he concluded. — DayakDaily

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