Kuching: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has pledged to continue championing the rights of B40 Sarawakian students, urging the state government to extend its RM15,000 annual stipend to all students, including those studying at federal universities.
Chong said B40 students across Sarawak face the same financial burdens, including accommodation, meals, and basic living expenses, regardless of whether they attend Sarawak government universities or federal institutions.
He described the current policy, which limits the stipend to four Sarawak government universities, as discriminatory.
He made the remarks during a scholarship presentation ceremony at the DAP Sarawak headquarters, where he distributed RM93,000 in higher education scholarships to 62 Stampin students.
This year, his constituency service centre has awarded RM742,500 to 495 students, the third consecutive year of such assistance, with more than half of the annual RM2 million constituency allocation dedicated to education-related aid, scholarships, and individual assistance accounts.
Chong stated that the scholarships are open to students from families with a monthly income below RM7,000 and that the recent distribution was the final batch for this year.
“Although the scholarship amounts may not be large, they help reduce family expenses and allow students and parents to focus on education.
“Government money comes from the people and must be returned to the people. I will continue to fight for the rights of Sarawak students and ensure they receive the support they deserve,” he said.
Chong encouraged the recipients to use the funds wisely, wished them academic success, extended best wishes to their parents’ good health, and conveyed early Christmas and New Year greetings.
He also expressed satisfaction and welcomed the fact that, after more than three years of actively implementing this education program and helping many students continue their studies, the Sarawak government has also introduced a similar university assistance program.
However, the assistance, in the form of an RM15,000 annual stipend, is only available to B40 Sarawak students enrolled at four Sarawak government universities: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Sarawak, Sarawak University of Technology, and i-CATS University College.
“B40 students from Sarawak enrolled in federal universities, such as University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) or UiTM Sarawak, are not eligible for this stipend.
“They are also children of Sarawak. Why is there such discrimination? The Sarawak government should treat all B40 students equally and fairly and not deny assistance just because they study at federal universities,” he said.
He said he had raised the issue during the recent Sarawak State Assembly sitting but noted that the state government chose to maintain its current policy.
Chong mentioned that in the recently concluded Sarawak State Assembly session, he raised this issue, requesting that the government provide the RM15,000 annual stipend to B40 Sarawak students enrolled in federal universities.
Unfortunately, the Sarawak government maintained its original policy, limiting the annual stipend to B40 students attending the four Sarawak government universities.
