Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said at his Hari Raya open house, at the Lakis centre, that he was setting up a new model to help needy bumiputra school leavers.
This comes after state Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee approached him to assist bumiputra students from the lower- income group to study at University of Technology Sarawak . Abang Johari said, “Dr Annuar suggested that many bumiputra children could not afford to go to university due to the high fees.“He worked with me to form the special Sarawak Foundation programme to help them enter UTS.Meanwhile, Dr Annuar said he was also working on a collaboration programme so that UTS students in the not-too-distant future could continue their studies at other top universities such as Swinburne University and Curtin University as well as other foreign universities.
Dr Annuar, who is also UTS board of directors chairman, said a proposal had been presented for a quality basic studies programme at UTS that would enable students to continue their studies at other universities. “I will contact the universities to discuss a collaboration in creating this foundation programme,” he said.