Kota Kinabalu: The State Government should consider giving greater priority to critical fields such as medicine, specialist training, engineering, technology and other professions when awarding state scholarships, said Likas Assemblyman Tham Yun Fook.
Tham said this after accompanying a high-achieving student who had received an offer to pursue a medical degree at a private university to the State Scholarship Division on Wednesday to seek an update on her scholarship application.
He said the visit also provided an opportunity to better understand the state scholarship assessment and allocation process, while highlighting the need for a more strategic approach to developing local talent based on Sabah’s manpower requirements.
“Sabah still faces a shortage of doctors, specialist medical officers and healthcare professionals, and the State Government needs to give greater attention to these critical fields,” he said.
Tham said a more targeted scholarship policy would help students pursue higher education while building a pool of skilled local professionals to meet the State’s future needs.
He also raised concerns over delays in scholarship payments to students who had already been awarded scholarships, with the Public Service Department informing him that it was aware of the issue and had taken appropriate action.
Tham said every ringgit invested in education would generate long-term returns for Sabah through the development of professionals, future leaders and highly skilled workers.
He said the State Government should continue reviewing and improving its scholarship policy to ensure limited resources were used effectively, particularly to produce doctors, engineers, scientists, digital specialists and other professionals needed by Sabah.