Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) students who fail Bahasa Malaysia are still eligible to enrol in Sarawak-owned universities and receive free tertiary education under the state’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), provided they meet other entry requirements.

This is according to Sarawak Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Annuar Rapaee, who told the state legislative assembly yesterday that a pass in BM was not a prerequisite for admission to the state’s four universities or eligibility for the scheme, which covers 64 courses.

"This question is very important because it differentiates the policy we are implementing in Sarawak – whether BM is an important prerequisite for entry into our four universities, or whether it is also an important criterion for UEC students to qualify for free tertiary education.