S’wak govt may extend coverage of airfare aid
LAWAS: The Sarawak government will look into the proposal to extend coverage of airfare assistance for students in Sarawak and the criteria for eligibility.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this when officiating at the Lan Berambeh town hall session here yesterday.
“Perhaps, it would be based on distance and family financial background,” he said in a reply to the proposal by a youth that the airfare subsidy should be extended to students in northern Sarawak.
The Chief Minister said the request is reasonable but anticipated that similar request would come from the central region.
The request was made by a female participant from Long Ugui, who said it was a burden for parents to come up with money for the airfare of their children studying in Kuching or elsewhere in the state.
The RM300 subsidy under this scheme by the GPS state government currently covers only those studying in Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan and Sabah to return home for festive occasions, following a request by students in a Lan Berambeh session in Kuala Lumpur recently.
“We make it twice a year as there are students of mixed marriage and want to return to celebrate family reunion with Chinese family and Gawai Dayak or Hari Raya,” he said.
On the future of Limbang and Lawas, he said the prospect is bright.
He said a prospective investor based in Hong Kong had chosen Lawas for an oil and gas downstream project costing billions of ringgit and was eager to start feasibility study as early as April this year.
The proposed project is slightly smaller than the Pengerang project in Johor and the state government will be providing the incentives if this project materialised.
“Let’s all pray that it will happen and this would be a game changer for Lawas as there are many spinoffs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chief minister gave the thumbs up to the youth in Lawas for their futuristic mindset and interest in economic and social issues.
“I am happy that they are aware of what we are doing and of their roles as the future of Sarawak,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan called on the people of Lawas and the state to focus on the narrative and direction of Sarawak under GPS by giving their undivided support to Abang Johari to realise the plans for a bright future for the state.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, former federal Works Minister and PBB senior vice president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Limbang Resident Ir Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi and Lawas district officer Ladin Atok.