KUCHING (Dec 23): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) has urged the Sarawak Government to extend the RM15,000 yearly stipend to all Sarawakian students from the B40 category, regardless of the institution they attend.
In a statement today, Michael Kong, special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, said the current policy, while welcomed, falls short of the state’s commitment to ensure that no Sarawakian is left behind.
The Sarawak Government presently provides a RM15,000 annual stipend to students from Sarawakian households with a per capita income of less than RM1,500 per month.
However, Kong noted that this assistance is restricted to students enrolled in the four Sarawak state-owned universities, excluding many other deserving B40 students.
“This restriction leaves out a large number of Sarawakian students who are equally in need of support,” he said.
Kong pointed out that many students do not enrol in public universities by choice, but because the high tuition fees at private institutions, including the state-owned universities themselves, are beyond the financial capacity of B40 families.
Annual fees at these institutions can reach around RM20,000, a sum he described as unattainable for many low-income households.
As a result, Kong said students are often forced to depend heavily on National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans to finance their studies, entering the workforce already saddled with significant debt.
“Some students have no option but to take on part-time work while studying, juggling long hours just to meet basic living expenses, he said, adding that while such perseverance is admirable, students should not have to struggle merely to remain in education.
Kong stressed that if the Sarawak Government is sincere in its repeated pledge that no Sarawakian should be left behind, this principle must be translated into inclusive and equitable policies.
He stressed that financial assistance should be based on need, not on the institution a student happens to attend.
“Let this assistance truly reach those who need it most, ease the financial pressures on our students, and ensure that education remains a pathway to uplift lives,” he said.
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