KUALA LUMPUR: Imposing race-based quotas for student enrolment at universities is not the way forward for talent development in the country, a Sarawak deputy minister said.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said this when he cited the case of the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS).
"I can tell you this university... We don't have quota (for) how many Chinese must go in (must be accepted into the university), how many Bumiputera must go in.
"We do not think that it is a way forward for talent to be developed in the country.
"We want to give fair, equal opportunities to each and every one of Sarawakian."
The clip of his speech was uploaded on his TikTok account yesterday.
"Because of that again, we think about how the state government can give this opportunity not only to the rich students (students from rich families), poor students (students from poor families) but everyone across the board.
"Finally, our (Sarawak) Premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg) agrees that from 2026, we will embark with a free tertiary education for all courses related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or STEM-related courses," he said.
It was previously reported that Abang Johari had said that Sarawak is on track to provide free tertiary education to qualified Sarawakian students at its five institutions of higher learning by 2026.
Abang Johari had also said that the intakes into these universities will be smooth once it starts.
Students from poor families, he said, will not have the chance to pursue their tertiary education if the state government does not provide free education as the cost of studying in the universities is very high.