KUCHING: Increased revenues from the oil and gas sector to Sarawak will enable more education initiatives and assistance to be introduced for students.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said so far the Sarawak government has been able to implement numerous initiatives which benefited the students.
“We have been able to introduce and implement high impact initiatives such as free laptops, pocket money assistance, book vouchers, flight ticket subsidies and the Sarawak Education Enhancement Programmes (SEEP) despite Sarawak only working with the five per cent State Sales Tax (SST) revenues from its oil and gas production.
“No other states in Malaysia have been able to roll out initiatives and assistance of this scale for its students. They couldn’t even offer something near to this, let alone match it.
“The Sarawak government has emphasised so much on its students. Never in the country’s history has a state government provided pocket money, free laptops, or even PTPTN loan waivers for students,” he said in an exclusive with Sarawak Tribune.
Dr Annuar was confident that more can be done for Sarawak’s education sector and to assist students with better funding.
“Just imagine if we are able to fully control and get more income from our oil and gas. I believe not only our the education sector and students will benefit (from it), but the whole state across various sectors,” he said.
The deputy minister added the struggle for Sarawak’s rights over oil and gas and its continental shelf is not just about revenue, but about securing a brighter future for Sarawak and its people.
“It is not only the fight for us to gain the rights — it is the struggle of all Sarawakians for the future of the state,” he said.
He also said it is crucial for all Sarawakians to appreciate the hard work that the Premier has been doing to elevate Sarawak and its people.
“Our Premier has worked tirelessly to increase Sarawak’s annual revenue through various avenues.
“As such, I hope young Sarawakians will seize the opportunities to empower them in their education so that they can contribute to the state’s visions and goals towards the year 2030,” he added.
