Universiti Malaya explores off-campus law faculty in S’wak emphasising on NCR, MA63 subjects

Abang Johari (seated, second right) flanked by Uggah on his right and Sagah on his left in a group photo with the attendees at Unifor Appreciation Night at a hotel in Kuching on Dec 20, 2023.

By Karen Bong and Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Dec 20: Universiti Malaya (UM) has approached the State government intending to establish a law faculty off-campus in Sarawak, with a proposed curriculum that includes subjects of Native Customary Right (NCR) and Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this will provide an opportunity for students to study these as elective subjects.

“In Peninsular Malaysia, no university will teach you the Malaysia Agreement. After we make some noise, now they want to study MA63 as well as the Cobbold (Commission) Report and our traditional law,” he revealed when addressing Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) Appreciation Night at a hotel here tonight.

Furthermore, Abang Johari highlighted that Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak is currently offering a law degree program where students spend two years in Kuching and two years in Melbourne, Australia, with subsequent admission to the Victorian Bar.

As Sarawak intensifies its transition to a higher-income economy based on evolving technology, Abang Johari said it is for this reason that the State government is committed to providing free education by 2026 to cultivate a pool of talented workforce crucial for Sarawak’s future progress and prosperity.

“The Minister and Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development are calculating the budget needed now. They gave me the figure and simulation.

“All Sarawakian children, irrespective of race and religion, and be they rich or poor, so long as they are eligible to enter universities owned by the State government, we will pay for their fees,” he affirmed.

Abang Johari elaborated that free education cannot be implemented now as careful planning and preparation must be done, taking into account the need to increase the number of lecturers and disciplines to accommodate the anticipated rise in university enrollment.

“We want Sarawakian children to go for technical and financial disciplines such as accounting, engineering, cyber analysis, cyber laws, and so forth.

“They have calculated the cost so I have to work hard to get constant revenue to ensure it becomes a reality,” he said.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Deputy Minister of Education and Innovation Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep and Unifor director Datuk Jack Aman Luat were among those present. — DayakDaily