Sabah Proposes Free Education for Students Pursuing Further Studies

21 September 2025

PENAMPANG: The State Government is planning to provide free education for Sabah students pursuing further studies at state-owned higher learning institutions, namely University College Yayasan Sabah (UCSF) and Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah (KTYS).

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the Government also intends to introduce a loan subsidy policy, particularly for PTPTN and Yayasan Sabah loans, to help ease the financial burden of students.

“This initiative will benefit more than 100,000 borrowers. I am optimistic this policy is practical for the State Government to implement in line with Sabah’s financial position moving forward.

“This is proof of the commitment of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government to ensure more Sabah children receive support and to guarantee access to education."

“That is why the State Government places strong emphasis on education and human capital development, because we believe the younger generation represents the future of our beloved state,” he said at the Sabah Undergraduates Convention held at KDCA Hall here today.

Hajiji added that since assuming leadership of Sabah, his administration has prioritised education and human capital development, embedding these priorities into the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Blueprint—an inclusive and comprehensive plan that has brought significant progress to the state.

He noted that since 2021, the State Government has invested more than RM1.3 billion in education, the largest allocation in Sabah’s history. “This demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to young people,” he said.

More than 14 education initiatives have been introduced, including a one-off RM600 allowance for Sabah students pursuing studies in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan under the GRS-SubFly programme, and RM300 assistance under the SENTOSA initiative for students studying within the state.

Hajiji highlighted that the Government has also provided the largest scholarship fund since independence—amounting to RM136 million in 2025—benefiting thousands of students across various levels of study. In addition, the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) was established to assist students facing financial challenges.

“All this was made possible because the State Government has successfully increased state revenue to a record high of nearly RM7 billion,” he said.

Beyond education, Hajiji said, the Government has also prioritised people’s welfare under the SMJ initiative. This includes free SMJ Friendly Homes for hardcore poor and low-income families, as well as the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (SYUKUR) programme, which provides RM300 monthly assistance for 12 months to 100,000 recipients beginning this year.

Looking ahead to the upcoming 17th State Election (PRN17), the Chief Minister expressed confidence that Sabahans—particularly the 970,000 young voters—would make the right choice.

“PRN17 is very crucial as it will determine the continuity of Sabah’s development under GRS. The future of Sabah is in your hands. Do not waste this opportunity. Sabah cannot afford to be left behind any longer. We have great potential to become a developed and successful state. This is the time, this is the moment,” he stressed.

Hajiji further said the GRS Government had proven its capability with a strong track record in education, the economy, welfare, investment, and revenue management.

“Make the best choice—one that guarantees continuity of development, political stability, and the well-being of the people. This election is our golden opportunity to choose a strong government, and most importantly, one dominated by local parties.

“Let us not repeat past mistakes. Some claimed they wanted change, but the opposite happened. Development and progress stalled, and many projects were abandoned due to weak and poorly planned policies. In the end, it was the people who suffered,” he said.

He pointed out that the State Government has placed Sabah on a stronger economic track, with the state recording the third-highest investment inflows in Malaysia during the first quarter of 2025, creating more job opportunities for young people.

“Latest statistics show Sabah’s unemployment rate has dropped from 8.2 per cent in 2020 to just 6.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. This is not just numbers—it reflects the reality that many young Sabahans now have better access to stable and well-paying jobs,” he added.

The Chief Minister also called on the organisers of the Convention, which was attended by about 1,000 students, to submit the resolutions adopted to the State Government for serious consideration.