KUCHING – The Sarawak Government has formally launched the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring inclusive and equitable access to higher education while strengthening the state’s long-term human capital development.
The scheme, unveiled during a ceremony officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, represents a strategic policy designed to remove financial barriers for Sarawakian students.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn emphasised that FTES is not simply a new programme but a carefully planned policy framework aligned with Sarawak’s economic and social priorities.
He noted that the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to knowledge, innovation and talent development as drivers of growth.
“This scheme stems from the vision and leadership of the Sarawak Premier to remove financial barriers that hinder Sarawakian students from pursuing university education, thereby enabling them to focus fully on their studies without the burden of debt-related concerns,” he said in his welcoming address.
The concept of FTES was first introduced by the Premier in the 2023 Sarawak Budget Speech, signalling a clear directive to make higher education a central pillar of state development and a mechanism to strengthen social equity.
Dato Sri Roland Sagah explained that MEITD, in collaboration with other agencies, carried out extensive planning, including inter-ministerial consultations, the drafting of an implementation framework and the preparation of a Cabinet Paper. The proposal received unanimous approval, ensuring the scheme’s fiscal and administrative viability.
He highlighted that the allocation of substantial funding in the latest Sarawak Budget demonstrates the government’s seriousness in positioning FTES as a long-term investment in education, future opportunities and financial freedom for students.
“All legal and financial foundations have now been finalised, enabling the FTES to be implemented immediately and deliver direct benefits to students and families across Sarawak,” he added.
The launch event was attended by senior state leaders, including Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister in the Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and MEITD Deputy Minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, alongside other dignitaries.
The introduction of FTES underscores Sarawak’s broader vision of building a highly skilled, knowledge-based workforce while ensuring that no capable student is denied access to higher education due to financial constraints.
