KUCHING, October 1 — Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg emphasized tonight that the Sarawak government is committed to depoliticizing education, believing it to be a crucial tool for improving the state and its people’s living standards. Speaking at the closing of the 10th Malaysian Chinese Independent Schools Ball Games Championship 2023, Premier Abang Johari stated, The moment you politicize education, there will be reactions and counter-reactions, and there will be no end to it, and the country will decline. We want the country to rise.
But if we use education to raise our standard of living, then it is the tool by which we move forward. It should not be treated as a tool to be politicized. He went on to stress the importance of Chinese education in the state, highlighting that Sarawak recognized the Unified Examination Certificates issued by Chinese Independent Schools. The government has also provided assistance in constructing buildings for these schools and allocated RM10 million annually to support them. Moreover, Abang Johari mentioned that in addition to aiding Chinese Independent Schools, the government had established international schools based on the Cambridge syllabus.
These include institutions of higher learning like the University Technology Sarawak and branches of Swinburne and Curtin Universities. While these institutions’ assets are owned by the state government, their programs are aligned with the main campuses in Australia. The Premier emphasized that the state government prioritizes quality education as a means to increase household incomes and improve living standards. As such, mastering English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Malaysia is considered crucial for Sarawak’s future development.
In conclusion, Abang Johari expressed his hope for the successful progress of Malaysia as a united nation and affirmed Sarawak’s commitment to playing its part in this endeavor. The 10th Malaysian Chinese Independent Schools Ball Games Championship 2023 featured participation from 43 Chinese Independent Schools nationwide.
