MIRI: The free higher education policy implemented by Sarawak beginning next year will only apply to state-owned universities.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg stressed that the policy will not be extended to non-Sarawak-owned universities as they are funded by the federal government.

"If we extend it to other universities, it will be funded by the federal government. So we don't want to get involved with the federal government.

“How can we give free education to federal government funded institutions? It should be the federal government funding us with free education. Therefore, this is our rationale,” he said.

He said this at a townhall session in conjunction with the Sarawak Day 2025 celebration here on Tuesday, which was attended by students from 16 secondary schools, 21 youth organisations and 11 public higher education institutions.

The session titled 'Sarawak's Young Generation: Catalysts for Progress & Prosperity' was conducted by Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala as moderator.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari explained that the policy will only focus on universities owned by the Sarawak Government, namely Curtin University, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, i-CATS University College, Sarawak Centre for Technical Excellence (CENTEXS) and Sarawak University of Technology.

Additionally, the policy allows Sarawakian students to choose courses of interest without going through the University Central Unit (UPU) screening.

"Secondly, students pursuing their studies are not subject to UPU, you are free to choose a course.

“Let us focus on universities belonging to Sarawak. Look at Nordic countries like Norway, including Germany. Our hope now is for our children to be equipped with the latest knowledge for the future,” he added.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, heads of departments and other dignitaries. -UKASnews