East Malaysian state education funding initiatives

State governments in East Malaysia are implementing significant financial aid programs to support higher education.

In Sabah, the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) has distributed RM40 million to over 27,000 students since 2022. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor highlighted that between January and August 2026, 11,383 students received RM15.89 million in assistance. Furthermore, the state has allocated RM155 million this year for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS), with a specific focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

In Sarawak, the government has allocated RM200 million for its Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) as part of Budget 2027. The initiative is designed to cover tuition fees for up to 10,600 students across 64 undergraduate programmes at four state-owned institutions. Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee noted that Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders are eligible for the scheme provided they meet specific academic requirements, such as achieving at least five Grade Bs in their upper secondary examinations.