Kota kinabalu: The government continues to place importance on Sabah’s higher education development, including the need to provide hostels at community colleges and establish a Faculty of Law at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir highlighted that Sabah has specific needs compared with other states, especially involving students from interior areas who require hostel facilities to pursue their studies at community colleges. He emphasized the necessity of establishing hostels for students hailing from various parts of Sabah, noting that while hostels are generally not provided under the community college policy, they are crucial for regions like Sabah, Sarawak, and certain remote areas in Peninsular Malaysia.

Zambry’s observations came after visits to several community colleges in Sabah, including those in Tambunan and Beaufort, which cater to students from rural and hard-to-reach areas. In addition to addressing the hostel requirements, the government has approved the establishment of a Faculty of Law at UMS, marking a significant step in strengthening the higher education ecosystem in Sabah.

He pointed out that the Cabinet has given the green light for UMS to move forward with forming a Faculty of Law, with no objections from the Bar Council regarding Sabah and Sarawak having their own law faculties. This development is seen as vital in providing Sabah’s youth with opportunities to enter the legal profession without relying solely on universities in Peninsular Malaysia.

Regarding the timeline for establishing the faculty, Zambry mentioned that it would depend on UMS’s readiness. He expressed hope for an expedited process, estimating that it might take between six months and a year to establish the faculty.