MIRI: The Sarawak government plans to provide free tertiary education to all its students studying in Sarawak-owned universities.
“This can be achieved if the state’s revenue continues to increase,” said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The state owns four higher education institutions and one training centre.
They are Swinburne University, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and i-Cats university College, while the training centre is the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs).
“In 2022, Sarawak recorded a revenue of RM12 billion, and this year we expect to have a positive revenue performance,” he said at the Miri City May Fest closing ceremony here yesterday (May 28).
Sarawak is targeting a revenue of RM11 billion this year.
“In the first quarter of 2023 we have achieved RM5 billion or 45 per cent of our projected revenue, and we are expecting it to increase, and we have three quarters more to go,” he said.
With the increase in revenue, the government will be able to pump in more money into the sovereign wealth fund which can be used to provide free tertiary education to all Sarawakians at state-owned universities, he added.
Meanwhile, on Mayor Adam Yii’s request for the Miri City Hall extended across the sea — connecting the main building by a bridge — Abang Johari said an in-depth study would have to be carried out.
“And it is subject to cost … if we can’t go over the sea, perhaps we can do it along the seaside; we will consider,” he said.
