KUCHING: The state government was urged today to consider providing more scholarships for deserving Sarawakians to study abroad. More efforts should be made on creating high-quality jobs, said Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii.

He said Yayasan Sarawak currently offers scholarships only for studies at local universities.

Yii welcomed a state government proposal to help Sarawakian students repay loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

However, the state government should be transparent about its plans. “Will it benefit all Sarawakians, or only the B40 group?” he said.

He said the state government should lay the groundwork to generate high-quality jobs so that young graduates would be able to pay for their loans and other future expenses.

“Many of the jobs created now in the state are in the lower-paying sectors such as timber and oil palm,” he said, while thousands had left to the Peninsula and elsewhere for work. “By creating quality jobs, we can keep our best talent in Sarawak,” he said.

He supported a call to set up a state labour ministry.