192 UEC holders currently benefiting from tuition fee under FTES

KUCHING, Oct 13 2026: Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn said a total of 192 Sarawakian Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders are currently benefiting from tuition fee coverage under the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES). 

Caption: Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn says based on the current admission requirements provided by the participating universities, a pass in Bahasa Melayu is not stipulated as a compulsory entry requirement for UEC holders. 

He said 137 of them are at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, 21 at Curtin University Malaysia, 33 at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and one at i-CATS University College

He said UEC holders are eligible to be considered for the FTES subject to fulfilling the applicable academic and programme-specific entry requirements of the participating State-owned universities.  

"The requirements vary according to the university and programme. 

"Generally, the requirements for a bachelor’s degree programmes for a UEC holder is 5 grade Bs, with additional prerequisite subjects for certain programmes such as Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Physical Science. 

"Based on the current admission requirements provided by the participating universities, a pass in Bahasa Melayu is not stipulated as a compulsory entry requirement for UEC holders. 

"However, applicants must fulfil all other applicable admission requirements, including English language requirements and programme-specific prerequisites, where applicable,"  Sagah said when replying to questions raised by Batu Lintang State Legislative Member See Chee How during question and answer session in the State Legislative Assembly.

He said UEC students enrolled under FTES will have the same access to internship and industrial placement opportunities as other students from participating universities, regardless of their UEC status.

See wanted to know how many Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) students are currently benefiting from the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), and what percentage do they represent at each university participating in the FTES

He also wanted to know what were eligibility criteria for UEC holders to qualify for FTES and is a pass in Bahasa Melayu compulsory for UEC holders to be eligible for FTES.

State government has agreed in principle to allocate SALCRA with 5,000 hectares to develop new sources of income

KUCHING, Oct 13 2026: The state government has agreed in principle to allocate 5,000 hectares to Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) to develop new income sources, ensuring the organisation's long-term financial sustainability.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (right) attending the 50th anniversary of Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA)

Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, who is also SALCRA Chairman, Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said the approval is an important step in supporting the transformation agenda of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

"Our direction is clear. SALCRA must become stronger, more efficient and increasingly self-reliant financially.

"SALCRA cannot continue to depend on traditional sources of income. We need to diversify revenue sources, increase profits and explore new businesses based on our existing expertise," he said at the SALCRA Golden Jubilee Dinner in conjunction with its 50th anniversary celebration last night.

The event was also attended by Premier Abang Johari Openg.

Dr Rundi explained that the SALCRA Transformation Plan 2026–2030, drawn up following the SALCRA Corporate Study in 2024, is also aligned with the Sarawak SOE Transformation Roadmap 2026–2030.

He said potential areas to be explored include green and renewable energy, bio and organic fertiliser production, food security-related activities and downstream oil palm industries.

In addition, SALCRA's expertise in managing Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, plantations and mills could be commercialised through consultancy, management and technical services.

Dr Rundi said that over its five decades, SALCRA has developed about 55,000 hectares of oil palm plantations, benefiting more than 22,000 families from over 400 villages and longhouses in Sarawak.

Since 1985, SALCRA has also distributed nearly RM1.2 billion in net proceeds or dividends to participants of its land development schemes.

He said the achievements prove SALCRA's role not only in developing agricultural land, but also in improving the socioeconomic status of rural communities through employment opportunities, income and infrastructure development.

Deputy Premiers Douglas Uggah Embas and Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, state ministers and deputy ministers among those present.