SIBU: The University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) is not exclusively owned by any particular group but is a public institution of higher learning established for the benefit of all Sarawakians, regardless of socio-economic background.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, said that during his initial appointment as chairman of UTS in 2021, the university faced various challenges, including the negative perception of the community, who considered UTS only for high-income groups due to the high tuition fees.
He emphasised that this perception was not a result of any exclusive policy, but rather due to financial constraints in covering operational costs at a time when the university was still new.
“During the state election, I was criticised by several individuals who claimed that UTS, although built with government funds, was not accessible to low-income groups.
“I sat down with UTS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid, and we acknowledged that, at the time, the majority of students were indeed from high-income families due to the fees charged.
“But we cannot blame UTS; they were also struggling to survive. Running a university is not cheap,” he said at the UTS Appreciation Dinner held at a prominent hotel here on Wednesday.
Elaborating, Dr Annuar said that in recognising the urgent need to shift public perception and widen access to higher education, he and the UTS management proposed to the Sarawak Government the introduction of a 50 per cent scholarship for all students, along with an additional 80 per cent scholarship specifically for students from the B40 group.
This initiative, he said, has had a significant impact, with student numbers increasing from around 1,000 to over 4,000, and expected to reach 5,000 – the university’s current maximum capacity – by the end of the year.
More importantly, the percentage of students from the B40 group has also increased significantly from only eight per cent to almost 40 per cent, as a result of an inclusive and people-orientated approach.
Commenting on the implementation of free higher education starting next year, Dr Annuar described it as a bold and historic step by the state government to empower the Sarawak’s human capital.
“Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg himself stated that he never promised free education, but we are delivering it regardless.
“No other state in Malaysia, not even the richest, can compete with Sarawak in this area over the next decade,” he stressed.
In this regard, he called on all parties to continue supporting efforts to ensure that UTS not only becomes the best university in Sarawak but is also capable of competing at both national and international levels.
Also present at the event were Khairuddin, Sibu Divisional Health Officer Dr Teh Jo Hun, UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Mohd Shahril Osman, and UTS Registrar, Jimmy De Rozario.
