Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem said the extra allocation would allow for an additional 1,030 PTPK loans to be offered to those wishing to pursue skills training and certification at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Richard said prior to the additional funds, Sarawak was given RM20.1 million to be disbursed to various training providers for 2,079 trainees this year, amounting to 10 per cent of the total allocation for PTPK nationwide.

“However, due to a high demand from youths in Sarawak to pursue careers based on TVET, we are pleased to inform that the Human Resources Ministry, through PTPK, will provide an extra allocation of RM10 million this year to fund 1,030 more trainees,” the Borneo Post Online reported him as saying in a statement.

Richard’s announcement came in response to Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s appeal for an increase in PTPK allocations for Sarawak.

Adenan had said many Sarawakian youth who had previously been offered places in TVET institutions, declined after failing to secure loans from PTPK.