
Scholarship for 31 Indonesian students from Sabah CLCs
Published on: Fri, Jul 11, 2025
By: Lagatah Toyos Text Size: Aris bidding farewell to the students during their send-off ceremony. TAWAU: The Republic of Indonesia (KRI) Consulate in Tawau has sent 31 graduates from various Community Learning Centres (CLC) in Sabah to further their studies in Indonesia. Indonesian Consul in Tawau, Aris Heru Utomo, said the students are recipients of the 2025 Generasi Maju Cinta Tanah Air (Gema Cita) scholarship and will pursue their education at four senior high schools (Sekolah Lanjutan Tingkat Atas, SLTA) in North Kalimantan Province (Kaltara). He said five students will study at SMA St Gabriel Nunukan, another five at SMK Negeri 1 Nunukan, 10 at SMK Negeri 1 Sebatik Barat and 11 at SMK Mutiara Bangsa in Sebatik. A formal send-off ceremony for the students was held at the KRI Tawau, before their departure from Tawau Port to Tunon Taka Port in Nunukan. Prior to their departure, the students participated in a four-day orientation camp conducted by Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu (SIKK) to help them prepare and avoid culture shock or homesickness while studying abroad. In his speech, Aris urged the students to make the most of this educational opportunity to realise their ambitions in various fields, as obtaining the Gema Cita scholarship is highly competitive. He said the students had to compete with more than 1,500 graduates from SIKK and CLCs this year, while the scholarship allocation was only for 754 students. 'Make full use of your time throughout your education at SLTA not only by studying but also by participating in extracurricular and leadership activities from an early stage,' he said. Meanwhile, accompanying teacher Syamsul Adil said since the scholarship programme began in 2013, a total of 4,036 CLC students in Sabah have benefitted. He said these students have continued their education across 11 regions in Indonesia – Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Lampung, South Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Bali, South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara. This year, the programme has added another region, East Nusa Tenggara, bringing the total to 12 regions. He added that for the 2024/2025 session, there were over 1,500 junior secondary (SMP) CLC graduates from Sabah. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Kuching-Pontianak Direct Route Provides Flexibility, Convenience For Travellers
KUCHING, July 26 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said the Kuching-Pontianak route, scheduled to commence on Sept 12 and operate twice daily, would provide greater flexibility and convenience for travellers from both sides of the border. In a statement today, he said the opening of these air routes was not just a milestone in aviation, but also a testament to the strong historical, cultural, and familial ties shared by the people. 'It will boost tourism, trade, education and social linkages, especially among border communities,' he said. According to him, the Sarawak government appreciated the Indonesian government's move to reopen Supadio Airport in Pontianak for international flights, which is a strategic air route connecting Kuching and Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan. He said he was formally invited to attend the launch, but was unable to be present due to prior official commitments, and delivered a pre-recorded video message to show his full support. 'I wish to first extend my sincere apologies for not being able to attend today's very special event. 'Nonetheless, I am truly delighted and would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Sarawak Tourism Board for the successful organisation of the Sarawak Travel Fair in Pontianak,' he said in the message. Air Asia Malaysia announced the launch of the two new direct routes connecting Kuala Lumpur and Kuching to Pontianak, to become the only airline operating international flights to the West Kalimantan capital city. In a statement today, the airline said the new routes were unveiled during the Sarawak Travel Fair, organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board in Pontianak, and officially launched by West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan.


Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Haze in Sarawak not from us, West Kalimantan governor clarifies
Ria (left) speaks to reporters at the event in Pontianak. — Photo by Kentigern Minggu PONTIANAK (July 26): The current haze affecting parts of Sarawak does not originate from West Kalimantan, said its governor Drs H Ria Norsan, who assured that air quality in the province remains manageable. Speaking at the launch of AirAsia's new travel routes during the Sarawak Travel Fair at Ayani Megamall here this evening, Ria said fire hotspots in West Kalimantan are being closely monitored and extinguished swiftly. 'As for the haze in West Kalimantan, it is still under control. The situation here is manageable,' he said, adding that most hotspots are currently in Riau Province on the Indonesian mainland. He noted that satellite monitoring by local authorities enables rapid response to fire outbreaks. 'If there's a significant flare-up, we take immediate action to extinguish it. Hopefully, our efforts will continue to keep the situation in West Kalimantan under control,' he added. According to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), hotspot activity across Kalimantan peaked at around 150 on July 24, before dropping to under 100 on July 25. The ASMC tracks cumulative hotspots across Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia. Drs H Ria Norsan haze lead West Kalimantan

Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
AirAsia Launches Direct KL, Kuching–Pontianak Routes From Sept 12
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- AirAsia Malaysia has launched two new direct routes connecting Kuala Lumpur and Kuching to Pontianak, the capital city of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, with AirAsia as the only airline operating international flights to the city starting Sept 12, 2025. In a statement, the company said the expansion follows AirAsia's rapid growth in Indonesia, including the recent launch of the Kuala Lumpur–Palembang route in July and the upcoming Kuala Lumpur–Semarang service in September. 'With the introduction of Pontianak, AirAsia Malaysia will operate to a total of 17 destinations in Indonesia through 223 weekly flights between the two countries, solidifying its position as the airline with the widest network serving Indonesia,' it said. The launch of these new routes strengthens regional connectivity and supports both governments' targets, including Malaysia's goal of attracting 4.3 million Indonesian tourists in 2025 and Sarawak's target of five million visitor arrivals by year-end. It also aims to contribute to Indonesia's national target of 16 million international arrivals, with Malaysia remaining one of its top source markets, it said. The new routes were unveiled during the Sarawak Travel Fair, organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board in Pontianak, and officially launched by West Kalimantan Governor Drs Ria Norsan. He said the new direct routes will not only facilitate easier access for travellers but also bolster trade, investment and tourism flows. 'West Kalimantan stands ready to welcome more Malaysian visitors while providing convenient access for Indonesians seeking business opportunities, leisure travel and medical services in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur,' he said. Consulate of Malaysia in Pontianak, Consul Azizul Zekri Abd Rahim said the new connectivity marks a pivotal moment in fostering stronger bilateral ties between Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly West Kalimantan.