BETONG: More than 5,000 students have registered under the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), reflecting a highly encouraging response to the state government’s initiative to strengthen higher education opportunities.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the state government has allocated RM260 million to cover tuition fees for up to 10,000 students, with half of the quota already filled so far.

“So, to our children who are still studying, make full use of the time while you are young, as cost will not be an issue because the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Government will pay the tuition fees,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the Saribas Constituency Leaders with the People programme at Riveria Sports Centre, Debak, on Friday.

He added that the students enrolled are from four local universities, namely Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and i-CATS University College, involving 68 programmes focused mainly on science-related fields, while also covering psychology, accounting, finance, law and medicine.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari said the Sarawak Government is also providing scholarships to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in the field of medicine due to the urgent need to increase the number of doctors in Sarawak.

“We are short of 4,000 doctors here, so we need to fill that shortage. That is why we will increase our scholarships to UNIMAS, as it has its own Faculty of Medicine,” he added.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, Kuching North City Commission and Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, Betong Member of Parliament Dato Dr Richard Rapu, heads of departments and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews