Program Bistari at Kapit, Sarawak

SEGi College Sarawak marks a historic moment on 17 March 06 when SEG International Group vice president Datu Putit Matzen (left) presented two scholarships worth a total of RM30,000 to SMK Kapit principal Annathan Subramaniam (right) and witness by YB Dato Sri James Masing (centre) who officiated at the function earlier.

17th March 2006 Kapit: Further studies must be made accessible and affordable to every student in Sarawak, particularly those living in the rural areas. Conversely, students should take such opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge, said Land Development Minister Dato Sari Dr James Jemut Masing. This should be especially their SPM and STPM results, he added at the launching of “Program Bistari Sarawak” at Dewan Suarah Kapit on Friday. The programme is joint effort between Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and SEGi Collge Sarawak to help locals, particularly in rural areas, gain higher education. He said “Program Bistari Sarawak” would give students the chance to further their studies in a number of industry-driven programmes, and without financial constraints.

“Program Bistari Sarawak” offers courses ranging from Vocational Training to Diploma and Degree programmes, given students a variety of payment schemes from government funded loans to scholarships.

“There are countries that are much smaller than Sarawak but they have higher GDP (Gross domestic product) than us. These nations have fewer resources and yet they can be successful."

“These countries have invested a lot to develop their human capital. They realize that having skilled and knowledgeable workers will propel their economies,” he said. Masing said Sarawak had rich land resources and by having a State equipped with skilled and knowledgeable people to tap those resources will make it a formidable economic power.

Masing said the “Program Bistari Sarawak” was in line with the government's stand to upgrade students' knowledge so that they will be more than capable to carry out their tasks as knowledgeable workers, and eventually be the State's leaders and entrepreneurs.

“I believe that institutions of higher learning like SEGi College Sarawak have a key role to play in helping to build the leaders of tomorrow.”

“This initiative will help contribute towards the ultimate objective of ensuring and family in Sarawak,” he added.

I applaud SEGi College Sarawak for looking beyond the Vocational Training and Diploma stages to provide full pathway to degrees with its partner universities.

Those who take the offered programmes will surely benefit from their qualifications when they fill in the void of skilled workers required by our industries, he said.