No BM required for FTES university entry, but students must pass before graduating

Dr Annuar speaking to reporters during a press conference at the DUS complex on Oct 14, 2026.

By Amanda L

KUCHING, Oct 14: Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) does not require Bahasa Malaysia as an entry qualification for eligible students entering the State’s four private universities, but they must meet the language requirement before graduating, says Deputy Minister of Education and Innovation Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.

He cited Section 41 of the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555) to explain the distinction between university admission and graduation requirements, following questions raised during yesterday’s (Oct 13) State Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting.

“The law does not specify Bahasa Malaysia as an entry requirement for private universities, but Malaysian students must meet the national language requirement before they can be awarded their qualifications,” he told reporters during a press conference at the DUS complex today.

He explained that Malaysian students who did not meet the required Bahasa Malaysia qualification would have to take Bahasa Kebangsaan A under the General Studies (MPU) curriculum during their university studies.

“The subject is compulsory, and students must pass it to graduate. Those who fail in their first year must continue taking it until they pass, he said.

Dr Annuar stressed that the requirement was not exclusive to FTES recipients or the 64 courses covered by the scheme, but applied to Malaysian students at private universities generally.

The four institutions involved in the scheme are Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), i-CATS University College, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Curtin University Malaysia.

Under FTES, eligible Sarawakian students accepted into the four institutions for the designated courses qualify for the scheme,” he explained.

Addressing the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), Dr Annuar said Sarawak recognised the qualification for university admission, allowing eligible students to apply without necessarily having Bahasa Malaysia.

However, students who did not meet the language requirement would still have to fulfil it during their studies before they could graduate.

He also pointed out that students who had already met the Bahasa Malaysia requirement would still need to complete the other compulsory MPU subjects.

“Before you are awarded a degree, diploma or certificate, you must meet the national language requirement,” he stressed.

The deputy minister said universities would help students meet the requirement, adding that they had sufficient time during their studies to pass the subject.

He also urged those criticising the policy to base their arguments on facts and figures, saying the objective was to ensure students could benefit from the State’s free tertiary education initiative without being exempted from the national language requirement. —DayakDaily