KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) today, under which 4,693 students would pursue tertiary studies free of charge at Sarawak-owned institutions beginning February 2026.
Covering 64 courses across four Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning (SIHL), Abang Johari said the initiative was aimed at ensuring ‘anak Sarawak’ became the driving force behind the state’s future development.
He expressed confidence in the students’ potential, saying Sarawak’s future would be shaped by their success.
“Parents do not need to worry about your children. Let the government worry about finding the funds – for the sake of Sarawak and for the sake of our students.
“Tertiary education will be the government’s responsibility. And I am not worried, because as long as we have good governance, a good government and sincere leaders, we will be able to carry this through.
“Students, we love you. Our hearts are with you and with your parents. Every parent’s hope is to see their children succeed through good education,” he said.
He said this when launching the FTES at the Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here today.
Abang Johari said many Sarawakian students had the ability to excel in tertiary education but were unable to continue due to financial constraints faced by their families.
He said repeated promises of assistance in the past had often amounted to rhetoric, leaving capable students without real support to pursue higher education.
As such, he said his government had concluded that providing free access to tertiary education was necessary to secure Sarawak’s future.
“My colleagues and I have rationalised and analysed Sarawak’s future. Sarawak is blessed with rich natural resources, but while we have natural capital, we lack the human capital to add value to those resources.
“We can see countries that do not have natural resources, yet they are categorised as developed societies because they have the brains behind their progress,” he added.
Under the scheme, he said students who passed any recognised examination would be eligible for admission into Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning, subject to obtaining a credit in Bahasa Malaysia in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
He added that holders of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) would also be eligible, provided they met the Bahasa Malaysia SPM requirement.
“As long as you pass a recognised examination, including UEC, and obtain a credit in Bahasa Malaysia, you are eligible for free tertiary education,” he said.
Abang Johari said the initiative aligned with the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which emphasised the creation of an inclusive society as one of its core pillars.
He said the policy reflected a forward-looking approach under his leadership, aimed at ensuring Sarawak’s natural wealth was matched by a strong and capable workforce.
