Introduction
In a historic commitment to human capital development, the Sarawak State Government has allocated RM250 million to fully fund the initial implementation of the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES).
Speaking at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee affirmed that the state’s prudent financial management and growing revenue reserves guarantee the long-term sustainability of the free tuition policy.
Key Financial Highlights
- Initial State Allocation: RM250 million set aside to cover full tuition for eligible Sarawakians.
- Per-Student Support: The state covers at least RM30,000 per student annually directly to participating universities.
- Projected Annual Investment: Total state expenditure on FTES is projected to reach RM450 million to RM600 million annually as student enrollment hits full capacity across all four state campuses.
[ State Fiscal Reserves ] ──> RM250 Million Initial Allocation
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├──> Swinburne University Sarawak
├──> Curtin University Malaysia
├──> University of Technology Sarawak (UTS)
└──> i-CATS University College
Long-Term Economic Impact
State leaders emphasized that tuition-free education is treated not as an operational cost, but as a strategic long-term economic investment. By removing financial barriers for local high school leavers, Sarawak ensures a steady pipeline of qualified engineers, data scientists, software developers, and accountants to power PCDS 2030 megaprojects.