The Sarawak government will continue its Free Laptop Program and Book Voucher Program next year to strengthen educational access for low-income families. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that these initiatives are key components of the 2026 Sarawak Budget, presented today during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) session.
“To ensure students are not left behind due to financial constraints, the government has allocated RM30.5 million in 2026 to provide laptops to first-year diploma and degree students. This initiative aims to equip them with essential digital tools for online learning, academic research, and coursework,” he said.
Complementing this effort, RM2 million has been set aside for the Book Voucher Program to help students acquire textbooks and other academic materials critical to their success.
In addition, the Sarawak government will continue its high-impact financial aid program by offering repayment discounts for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans. The program is specifically for Sarawak borrowers who have repaid more than 30% of their total loans. Fully funded by the Sarawak government through the Sarawak Foundation, this program makes Sarawak the only state in Malaysia providing PTPTN loan discounts at the state level.
“So far, RM117 million has been spent, directly benefiting around 33,000 PTPTN borrowers. For 2026, the government has allocated RM15 million to continue this financial aid program, which significantly eases the burden for Sarawak graduates,” he added.
Abang Johari emphasized that these measures align with efforts to ensure quality education is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.
