Willie schools Chong: FTES was never designed as a blanket subsidy

KUCHING, Dec 20 25: Puncak Borneo federal lawmaker Willie Mongin schooled his Stampin counterpart, Chong Chieng Jen on the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) that will be implemented next year.

Willie Mongin: Supporting Swinburne, Curtin, UTS and i-CATS is not discrimination, it is state capacity building

He said Chong's media statement conflates equity with uniformity and overlooks the constitutional, financial, and policy rationale behind the scheme.

“Firstly, FTES was never designed as a blanket subsidy for all tertiary education pathways,” he said, addinhg that it is a strategic state policy aimed at strengthening Sarawak’s own higher education ecosystem by investing in state-owned universities, over which the Sarawak government has governance, accountability, and long-term development responsibility.

“Supporting Swinburne, Curtin, UTS and i-CATS is not discrimination, it is state capacity building,” Willie, said in a statement, referring to Swinburne University of Technology, campus, Curtin University of Technology, Miri campus, University of Technology Sarawak and I-CATS University  College.

He said public universities such as UNIMAS, UiTM, UM, USM and UKM fall squarely under federal jurisdiction, adding that theirr tuition fees are already heavily subsidised (around 90%) by the federal government, using national funds contributed by all Malaysians.

“To now demand Sarawak to additionally absorb the remaining balance effectively means double funding by the state, which is neither fiscally prudent nor constitutionally intended.

“If Chong believes further assistance is required, the appropriate avenue is to lobby the federal government, not shift responsibility to the state,” he said.

Willie stressed that private universities, especially overseas institutions are market-based choices with highly variable fees, saying that expecting Sarawak taxpayers to subsidise half or more of private and foreign tuition costs would be financially unsustainable and inequitable to lower-income families whose children remain within public or state institutions.

He added no state government anywhere can responsibly underwrite unlimited private education choices.

He said the claim that “the majority of Sarawakian students are left out” ignores the reality that Sarawak already provides multiple forms of assistance beyond FTES, including targeted aid, scholarships, and B40-specific support schemes.

“FTES is one pillar, not the entire education support framework,” he stressed.

Willie said that the repeated slogan that “no Sarawakian should be left behind” must be interpreted within policy logic and fiscal reality, not political rhetoric.

He explained inclusion does not mean identical treatment regardless of jurisdiction, cost structure, or governance responsibility.

“In fact, the GPS government should be commended for stepping in voluntarily despite education being a federal matter by providing free tertiary education within Sarawak-owned institutions,” he said, adding “Gratitude is warranted, not politicisation.”

Willie said if  Chong is sincere about helping Sarawakian students in federal and private universities, the principled course of action is clear: press the federal government to expand its funding and subsidies, instead of mischaracterising a state initiative that was never meant to replace federal responsibility.

“If he can't solicit and secure funding from the federal government to help Sarawakian, then he is nothing but just demagogue and political opportunist,” Willie charged.