Sarikei MP: State government aims higher education for all Sarawak children  

SARIKEI (July 29): The Sarawak government is committed to providing higher education to local students through the establishment of four state-owned tertiary institutions and a training centre here, said Dato’ Sri Huang Tiong Sii.

The Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability said the four institutions were Swinburne University, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak, i-Cats University College and a training centre namely the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs).

“Sarawak is set to make history by becoming the first state in Malaysia to offer free education to some 25,000 Sarawakian students by 2026,” said Huang, who is also the Sarikei MP.

“This initiative was based on the Sarawak government’s confidence in the state’s thriving economy and the unity of its people,” he said at the Sarawak Education Expo 2024, jointly organised by Yayasan Sarawak, Sarikei Resident’s Office, and Sarikei District Office here recently.

At the event, Huang took the opportunity to congratulate the 112 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 students who excelled in the examination.

He expressed hope that their success would motivate their younger siblings to strive for excellence.

The expo, much like the previous year, aimed to provide students with the latest information on educational opportunities available to them.

“Education not only benefits individuals personally but also society and the nation as a whole. It is a long-term investment that yields significant returns in the form of human development and shared prosperity,” he stressed.