S’wak govt to pay students’ flight home for Gawai, Raya
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has agreed to cover the cost of flight tickets for Sarawakian students returning home for Gawai and Hari Raya celebrations.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this at the ‘Majlis Berbuka Puasa Bersama Anak Sarawak’ at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) last Friday.
Referring to a report on the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) website, Abang Johari estimated that about 10,000 Sarawakian students were furthering their studies in various disciplines in higher education institutes outside Sarawak.
“Just as I promised during Lan Berambeh last year, I will give aid in the form of return flight tickets for those who want to come back home to celebrate Hari Raya, Gawai and Chinese New Year.
“At the previous Chinese New Year, we assisted university students and gave them RM300 to come home and celebrate Chinese New Year,” he said in his speech.
He added that each university student was allocated twice as much this time to cover the costs of flight tickets.
“Each will be allocated at least RM600 for two times. Why two times? That’s because in Sarawak we have mixed marriages. For example, maybe the student’s father is Dayak and mother is Malay, so they will celebrate Gawai as well as Hari Raya.
“Or it could be that their mother is Chinese and father Malay. So we give RM300 for Chinese New Year and another RM300 to celebrate Hari Raya,” he said.
Abang Johari also urged students who have yet to book their flights to do so immediately.
“For those who have yet to book their flights to come home and celebrate Gawai and Hari Raya, book them now. Then give the booking receipt to Sarawak Volunteer and Yayasan Sarawak and we will reimburse you.
“We are able to cover these costs this year because Sarawak’s economy is good, we are united, we are comfortable and our economic status is lined up well,” he said.
State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani and other state cabinet members were also present at the event.