KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has hinted that educational assistance will be provided to Sarawakian students studying in public and private higher education institutions.
As the state is moving towards offering free tertiary education by 2026, Abang Johari said that the government is considering assistance to be given to students in both public and private higher learning institutions.
“We are aware that they need many things such as laptops, and the costs are quite high.
“That’s why I have directed efforts to find ways to help our students, and I estimate that in a year, we should assist around 5,000 students, especially from B40 families, in both private and public institutions,” he told reporters after officiating at the Bank Negara Financial LATeracy Exhibition at the Borneo Cultures Museum here yesterday (Nov 9).
Also present were Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Datuk Marzunisham Omar, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan and cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor or more commonly known as Datuk Lat.
Abang Johari also stated that the state government will offer assistance in purchasing textbooks for Sarawak students in both institutions, as textbooks can be expensive.
“There will be more assistance that I will announce in the 2024 Budget. Just wait,” he added.
Meanwhile, last Monday Abang Johari had said that the state’s revenue for 2023 is expected to surpass the record set in 2022 and announcement will be made in three weeks’ time, which appears to be able to break the 2022 record.
