KUCHING: The Sarawak Government is like a large family that strives to ensure every child receives the best possible education, said the Chief Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
Fazzrudin said, just as parents work hard to provide for their children’s needs, the state government is also working diligently to generate revenue that can be channelled back to the people through various educational and welfare initiatives, drawing an analogy between parents and government.
“The Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and the state leadership function as parents to the people.
“They are constantly thinking of how to use the state’s revenue to help students and ensure no child in Sarawak is left behind due to financial hardship,” he said when officiating at the Premier’s Education Initiatives Briefing at the Dewan Jubli Perak, Politeknik Kuching, today.
Fazzrudin said among the main initiatives introduced by the Sarawak Government are the Sarawak Rental Assistance Scheme (SRAS), Special Financial Aid (BKK) worth RM1,200 annually, the free laptop distribution programme, and study loans and scholarships by Yayasan Sarawak.
He added that the state has also allocated RM7 million this year for flight ticket subsidies, allowing students in higher education institutions to travel home twice a year.
“Beginning next year, the state government will also introduce the Free Education Scheme for all higher learning institutions owned by the Sarawak Government, including Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), i-CATS University College, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, and CENTEXS,” he said.
During his address, Fazzrudin also reminded students to make the most of the opportunities given to them and become agents of change in their communities.
“Students today are the future leaders of Sarawak. Use these opportunities wisely and help spread information about these programmes to others, especially those in rural areas.
“These efforts reflect the government’s strong commitment to nurturing more skilled and professional Sarawakians, ensuring a prosperous and competitive future for our state,” he said.
