KOTA SAMARAHAN: Strong SPM results in Kota Samarahan this year reflect improving education standards in the largely rural constituency, with targeted incentives and sustained community efforts credited for the progress.
Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament, Datuk Rubiah Wang, said the district’s performance improved from a Grade Point Score (GPS) of 5.49 to 5.18, alongside notable achievements at school level.
Among the highlights, she said SMK Pesantren Abdul Taib Mahmud recorded a 100 per cent pass rate, while several other schools showed marked improvements.
Rubiah added that 20 top-performing students from four schools under the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency were invited to the event and given ‘duit raya’ as recognition and encouragement.
“All of them scored straight As, including a top student from SMK Asajaya who achieved 11As,” she said when met by reporters at the ‘Majlis Ramah Mesra Aidilfitri Kota Samarahan’ event at Dewan Suarah Kota Samarahan today.
She noted that the achievements were the result of close collaboration between elected representatives, education agencies and the local community, alongside continuous improvements in school infrastructure.
“Schools that once faced challenges have now shown remarkable progress. SMK Asajaya, for instance, is now among the top 10 in Sarawak for STPM, while SMK Kota Samarahan has also improved significantly and produced six straight-A students in the recent SPM,” she said.
Rubiah expressed hope that the improved results would motivate future cohorts to strive for excellence.
On the welfare of students abroad, she said there has been no directive so far to bring back Malaysian students in the Middle East, including those under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA).
“They are continuing their studies as usual. Some have returned home for the festive season, and if they choose not to return, they need to inform MARA,” she said, adding that the situation in their study areas remains stable.
She said MARA is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with relevant offices to ensure the safety and well-being of students, particularly in West Asia.
Meanwhile, Asajaya assemblyman, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the strong academic performance in Kota Samarahan reflects long-term investments in human capital development.
He noted that hundreds of students from the area now gain entry into public universities each year, a significant improvement compared to the 1970s and 1980s when such numbers were minimal.
Abdul Karim said the transformation was driven by increased awareness among parents on the importance of education, as well as sustained efforts by leaders, teachers and schools.
“Previously, during certain seasons, many students in coastal areas would skip school to follow their parents to work. That is no longer happening today, which shows a clear shift in mindset,” he said.
He added that academic excellence in the area cuts across all communities, with students from Malay, Dayak and Chinese backgrounds among those achieving straight As.
“We support everyone and want to see this progress continue,” he said, adding that the results reflect the growing emphasis on education among families in the constituency.
