KUCHING: i-CATS University College has been renamed Sarawak Tun Openg University of Technology (TAHOTECH) as a tribute to Sarawak’s first Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Openg.
Tun Openg served as Sarawak’s first Head of State following the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, holding the position until his death on March 28, 1969.
His tenure spanned a formative period when Sarawak was establishing its political and administrative foundations within the federation.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also the son of the late Tun Openg, gave his consent to the university’s new name and corporate identity on Thursday (Oct 29).
The naming carries particular significance given the Premier’s commitment to expanding access to higher education, notably through the Sarawak Government’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), introduced this year.
Championed by Abang Johari, the initiative enables eligible Sarawakians to pursue their first bachelor’s degrees without tuition fees at participating Sarawak-owned higher education institutions.
TAHOTECH is among the institutions participating in the scheme, with 464 students having received FTES offers through the then i-CATS University College as of September 30.
They were among 6,246 students offered places under the initiative across four participating higher education institutions.
The scheme is part of the Premier’s broader efforts to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting Sarawak’s economic ambitions, particularly in emerging industries such as digital technology, advanced engineering and renewable energy.
In this context, the university’s new identity brings together two generations of leadership, with Tun Openg having served during Sarawak’s early years within Malaysia and his son now championing greater educational opportunities for its people.
The institution itself has undergone several transformations since its establishment as Kolej Teknologi PPKS in 2002.
It became the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) in 2006, attained university college status in 2020 and was elevated to full university status on Oct 20 this year.
Beyond recognising Tun Openg’s contribution to Sarawak’s history, the new name also introduces his legacy to younger generations who may be less familiar with the state’s early leaders.
For students pursuing their education at TAHOTECH, the institution will carry a name associated with Sarawak’s past while offering opportunities intended to prepare them for its future.
And perhaps the most meaningful tribute to Tun Openg will be found not merely in the name displayed at the university’s entrance, but in the generations of Sarawakians whose lives and opportunities it helps shape.
