Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has called on the Sarawak Government to review and expand the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), saying the current framework discriminates against many Sarawakian students.
While welcoming the introduction of FTES, scheduled for implementation in 2026, Chong said the scheme currently benefits only students enrolled in four Sarawak Government–owned institutions – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), and i-CATS University College.
“This contradicts repeated assurances by the Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, that no Sarawakian will be left behind,” he said in a statement.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP and ADUN for Padungan, pointed out that the scheme excludes two major groups of Sarawakian students: those studying in public universities across Malaysia, such as UNIMAS, UiTM, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, as well as those pursuing studies in private universities locally and overseas.
According to him, these students form the majority of Sarawakian tertiary students and face similar financial challenges as those studying in state-owned institutions.
He proposed that the state government expand the FTES to cover tuition fees for all Sarawakian students in public universities, noting that the federal government already subsidises about 90% of their fees, leaving students to pay between RM1,200 and RM3,000 annually.
“The tuition fees of those under direct intake of these public universities are also much cheaper than the tuition fees charged by the 4 Sarawak Government-owned universities,” he said.
Chong also suggested that the state government pay at least 50% of tuition fees for Sarawakian students studying in private universities, both locally and abroad.
In addition, he urged the government to extend the RM15,000 annual stipend currently given to students in the four state-owned institutions to students from B40 families, or households with a per capita income of below RM1,500, regardless of where they study.
“They are all Sarawakian boys and girls born to Sarawakian parents. They should not be left out of the FTES as well,” he said.
