MOHE Studying Proposal To Build Hostel For 700 TVET Students In Betong - Adam Adli

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is fine-tuning a proposal to build a residential college or hostel that can accommodate about 700 students in Betong, Sarawak, to expand access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in rural areas.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said the facility would benefit students of Politeknik Metro Betong Sarawak (PMBS) and Kolej Komuniti Betong.

He said the Sarawak Land and Survey Department has proposed a 8.814-hectare federally owned site in Batu Api district, located about 650 metres from the PMBS campus, for the project.

“The ministry will therefore apply for a change in land use and obtain the necessary approval from the Prime Minister’s Department, which owns the land.

“At present, our target is for the residential college to accommodate about 700 students, or slightly more. We want this issue to be resolved as soon as possible,” he said at the Special Chamber session of the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

He said this in his reply to a question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) on the need to upgrade PMBS into a fully fledged conventional polytechnic to ensure educational equity and safeguard the future of rural students in Sarawak.

On the matter, Adam Adli said the ministry wants to first address fundamental issues relating to student welfare and accommodation before submitting any further proposal to the relevant central agencies for consideration.

To ensure the institution continues to grow and attract more students, he said PMBS will introduce a new Diploma in Business Information Systems beginning in Session 2 of the 2026/2027 academic year this December.

PMBS currently has 291 students enrolled in its Diploma in Finance and Diploma in Tourism Management programmes, compared with its maximum capacity of 600 students.

The polytechnic also offers various short-term courses under its Lifelong Learning (PSH) agenda, including workshops on accounting and tourism management, which attracted 1,137 participants last year.

Adam Adli added that while awaiting the phased implementation of the hostel project, PMBS has established a Student Residential and Accommodation Management Committee to coordinate the welfare, accommodation and safety of students renting accommodation near the campus.

-- BERNAMA