KUCHING: To further strengthen the higher education sector, Sarawakians who enter universities owned by the state government are allowed to choose the majors they are interested in.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said that this move is to ensure that students can fulfil their interests, without the intervention of any outside party to determine their majors.

"In any university owned by Sarawak, we do not depend on the University Central Unit (UPU).

"What do students want to study? Want to study aviation, just go in. Want to study economics? Go to an economics university. Want to become a pilot? Just go in," he said.

He said this during the 8-Year Townhall session with the Sarawak Premier 2025 held at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here on Monday.

According to him, this method will not only ensure that students can study the majors they want but can also reduce the number of unemployment in Sarawak.

Commenting further, he said that this initiative is closely linked to the Sarawak government's desire to introduce strategic job opportunities including aerospace, satellite economy and data centres.

He clarified that all these require a skilled workforce, which is fostered through a new education system.

"If we want to implement aerospace, satellite economy and data centres, we must have sufficient workforce and these are important disciplines. That is why Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is important, finance is important, law is important.

"This is because the situation has changed so we are introducing Sarawakians to take up these strategic majors," he explained.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Sarawak and Federal Cabinet Ministers, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak and Federal Deputy Cabinet Ministers, heads of departments and other dignitaries. -UKASnews