Menteri besar Amirudin Shari said the institutions are Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS), Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and the Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC).

“So far, only two states have the capacity to implement such an initiative – Sarawak, which fully covers the cost, and Selangor, which bears 50% of the tuition fees. We are the only state in Peninsular Malaysia capable of doing this,” Amirudin said at an event here today.

He said that while the cost of providing quality education and advanced skills training is substantial, the state government views it as a long-term investment.

The state government may consider fully sponsoring students at these institutions if the initiative proves successful.

“In the future, if this format and programme succeed, we are prepared to implement free education for eligible students at Selangor’s higher learning institutions. We want to prove that free education is not an impossible dream,” he said.

In a separate development, Amirudin said 180,000 primary and secondary school students in Selangor have benefitted from this year’s Selangor People’s Tuition programme.

Of the total, 160,000 are Form Four and Form Five students receiving free tuition as well as food assistance.

The remaining 20,000 participants are Year One pupils who are strengthening their basic literacy and numeracy skills in remedial classes.

“This year’s approach not only addresses academic needs but also includes emotional and mental well-being programmes.

“We aim to build motivation, high self-esteem, and a positive mindset, as many come from families facing difficult circumstances,” he said.