KUCHING: The Sarawak Government is targeting 10,000 students from higher education institutions (IPTs) to receive free laptops this year as part of its efforts to advance the digital education agenda.

Chief Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman said the initiative follows the success of the programme’s initial phase over the past two years — in 2024 and 2025 — which benefited 20,009 IPT students with an allocation amounting to RM61 million.

He explained that the programme this year has already commenced, with approximately 5,700 students having been credited with vouchers for laptop purchases, involving a cost of RM17 million.

“This programme represents the second batch of implementation. For the first batch, distribution was carried out in 2025 involving more than 5,000 recipients, and today, over 5,000 additional laptops are being distributed to new recipients.

“Overall, for 2025 alone, including this latest distribution, the total allocation involved is approximately RM30 million, while last year the government distributed laptops with a total allocation of RM28.7 million,” he said.

He said this in a press conference after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, at the Kompleks Satria Pertiwi, on Wednesday.

During the visit, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari also officiated the symbolic handover to five students, namely Nursyaridah Aleeyah Mohd Ali and Muhammad Halqim Masrah from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Karen Bong Kai Hui from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Jayviques Paran from i-CATS University College and Elister Edwards Erim from Polytechnic Kuching.

Meanwhile, Dato Fazzrudin, who is also a Board Member of Yayasan Sarawak, added that besides providing free laptops, the Sarawak Government has introduced other initiatives to assist Sarawakian students in pursuing their studies including free book vouchers, special financial assistance, free school transportation programme, and school uniform assistance.

Touching on the Sarawak Returning Graduate Initiative (i-GPS), he assured that the programme would continue this year.

“Each year, we allocate RM8 million for the implementation of this programme and, Alhamdulillah, the allocation has been fully utilised by applicants annually.

“Based on projections, the programme is expected to involve approximately 22,000 journeys per year, benefiting an estimated 10,000 to 11,000 students overall,” he added. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Jonnie Kiew
Photo: George S. Embie
Translator: Nerissa Sia