Sarawak has made history as the first region in Malaysia to introduce free tertiary education for its citizens, eliminating any imposed quotas under the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES).

The Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, announced that this initiative is available to all eligible Sarawakian students, irrespective of their social backgrounds, provided they meet the university admission criteria.

Details of the Scheme

“There is no quota for FTES. As long as you can secure a spot in the designated courses at Sarawak-owned universities and have a genuine desire to learn, the government will be there to support you,” he stated to reporters after the official launch of FTES at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre.

Eligibility requirements include students who have successfully completed recognized examinations, such as SPM with a mandatory credit in Bahasa Malaysia, as well as graduates from Chinese schools holding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), given they satisfy the entry prerequisites.

Recognition and Future Plans

“The reason we acknowledge UEC is that if it is recognized by reputable universities and you possess a credit in Bahasa Malaysia, you will receive free tertiary education,” he emphasized.

Abang Johari highlighted that this initiative aligns Sarawak with countries like Germany, which also practice free tertiary education, demonstrating the State government’s dedication to nurturing human capital in order to leverage its rich natural resources.

“While we are fortunate to have abundant natural resources, without skilled human capital, we cannot maximize value. Knowledge is essential as we move towards a more advanced and modern economy,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he noted that additional programs beyond the initial 64 courses will be rolled out in the future to cater to the workforce demands of Sarawak’s evolving, knowledge-driven economy.

Among the distinguished attendees at the launch were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, and several other notable figures.