SIBU: Free education for all citizens in the state is expected to become a reality with the establishment of a sovereign fund in Sarawak.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is expected to present a new Bill for its establishment the State Legislative Assembly sitting this November.
According to Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, Michael Tiang, if this bill is approved, it will pave the way for the establishment of a government fund that can be used to provide free education to all Sarawakians as desired by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg.
“The GPS government wants to establish a sovereign fund where a bill is expected to be presented at the assembly this November.
“Abang Johari also has introduced various new economic model initiatives, especially involving green technology that can generate new additional income for Sarawak.
“It will enable the GPS government to establish another new fund for the purpose of free education for the people of Sarawak,” he said when met by the reporters after officiating at the Sibu District Education Office (PPD) Open Day which took place at SJK Chung Hua, today (Aug 27).
“This sovereign fund is what we learned from the establishment of funds from Norway and Singapore and the state government has already studied the establishment of the fund.
“We will establish a state government fund for the next generation so that they can study for free at all levels of learning so that the people of Sarawak are not left behind and can compete at the global level,” he stressed.
He stated that Abang Johari always wanted new income from the state’s revenue to be spent on all Sarawakians to study up to higher education levels.
Tiang also said that if there is new revenue from the economy in the state, Abang Johari wants priorityto be given to free education for the people of Sarawak.
“More details will be explained in the bill itself when the time comes. But I am sure that the establishment of this sovereign fund is most likely for free education in Sarawak,” he said.
Also present were the Sibu District Education Officer, Ahli Chikba, and the Chairman of the Sarawak Secondary School Principals Association Sibu David Teo Wu.
