KUCHING: Sarawak is heading towards a new economy, which is increasingly knowledge-driven and intensely using innovative technologies.
Premier Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said therefore, education would play a key role in securing Sarawak’s future as a modern and leading digital economy, with high-income society by 2030, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I kept thinking, how to help our economy to recover or even to emerge stronger from the pandemic…
“So, we have come out with the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, where one of its focuses is human resources development, as to create a knowledge-based society,” he said.
Abang Johari was speaking at the Yayasan Sarawak Premier’s Special Award held here today, where 58 outstanding students from 2019 to 2021, had been selected to receive the awards, including 20 recipients from 2019, 26 from 2020 and another 12 excellent students from 2021.
The Sarawak Government, he said, had decide to take over the assets of Swinburne University, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), and i-Cats University College, as well as to upgrade Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak as training centre – to ensure all Sarawakians have the access and opportunity to further their studies.
Apart from that, he said, the Sarawak Government has also provided scholarships and incentives for those who excelled in their studies.
“We are aware that (in the past), there were students with good results but failed to enter public higher-learning institutions via application through Central University Admission Unit online portal (UPUOnline), while others might not get the course they were strongly interested in.”
“Thus, we decided to take over the assets of the four universities, to ensure all our children who are interested in furthering their studies will be able to do so. They can decide to enroll in courses they are interested in,” he added.
Abang Johari said it was hoped that by doing so, Sarawak can create a knowledge based society, to support the new economy.
In addition, he also encouraged the students and school leavers to consider further their studies in digital and technology, biochemist, material science and engineering, as these would be the highly sought after or in-demand jobs in the future.
Meanwhile, Yayasan Sarawak director Mersal Abang Rosli said a total of RM138,000 has been allocated for the awards as cash incentives for the recipients.
Among those who present were Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and Sarawak Education director Datuk Dr Azhar Ahmad.
