Mara urged to set up college in Kapit
KAPIT: A tertiary education institute offering professional programmes needs to be set up here.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said although Kapit still needs to focus on infrastructure development, for a brighter future it cannot neglect human capital development.
“We want Kapit to have one professional education institute although there are colleges in Sibu and Bintulu. We foresee in one or two years to come, many new shops will emerge in Kapit and we can rent out these shops to provide business opportunities to the locals.
“But more importantly we can provide educational opportunities for our students here by setting up such an institute,” he said when closing the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Engagement Programme and the ministry’s People’s Tuition programme here yesterday.
Nanta, who is also Kapit Member of Parliament, said he had conveyed his request to Mara to open a Mara Professional College (KPM) here.
He cited accountancy as among the potential KPM programmes.
“The availability of such an institute here not only will benefit the students but also the local business community and thus generate economic activities here,” he said.
Nanta added that the road linking Kapit to Kanowit and Sibu as well as other major centres will be ready in one to three years’ time.
He also called on Mara to set up Arked Mara here and look into giving more financial assistance to local entrepreneurs.
On the People’s Tuition, he said it was for selected students from B40 or low income households earning below RM3,500 monthly.
It provides free tuition for Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students.
A total of 100 students from SMK Kapit, SMK Kapit No. 2 and SMK Selirik who were selected for the programme received their tuition completion certificates at the event. They had followed the programme from June until last month.
Among those present were Mara Sarawak director Dr Azmi Amat Murjan, Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit, Tapah Ata – a political secretary to the chief minister, and Kapit police chief DSP Freddy Bian.