50 top UEC students receive RM2.25 mil in Education Aid

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2012: Yayasan 1MDB (“1Malaysia Development Berhad”) is giving RM2.25 million to top Unified Examinations Certificate (UEC) students to continue their tertiary studies locally and abroad.

This is the third consecutive year Yayasan 1MDB partners Dong Jiao Zong (Dong Zong, United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia and Jiao Zong, United Chinese School Teachers Association) and Huaren Education Foundation (Huaren) for this initiative.

The Yayasan 1MDB Academic Grant aimed to reward and inspire outstanding students from Chinese independent high schools and to encourage them to be a positive influence to the community with their success stories.

Each student will receive RM15,000 per year for the next three years.  They comprise students who excelled in the 2011 UEC examinations. 

The grants were given out today in a simple ceremony at Chong Hwa Independent High School in Sentul, here. 

Present at the event were Deputy Education Minister and Huaren Education Foundation representative Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Dong Zong Chairman Dr. Yap Sin Tian, Jiao Zong Chairman Ong Chiew Chuan and 1MDB Corporate Social Responsibility Director Dennis See.
 
Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, who mooted the idea for this academic grant, wrote a congratulatory letter to every recipient. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan 1MDB.

1MDB Corporate Social Responsibility Director Dennis See said, “Yayasan 1MDB place a priority on educational initiatives as we believe that an educated workforce is the foundation of growth.  Investing in education is an investment in our nation’s future.”

“An educated society learns to appreciate our differences and utilises our diversity to bring about social changes. A unified population rich in culture and experienced in navigating ethnic sensitivities is an asset in a global environment where the ability to collaborate with co-workers and clients across borders is crucial,” he added.

Congratulating the recipients, he also hoped that the Yayasan 1MDB Academic Grant will motivate them to maintain their high standards. 

1MDB views education as a vital platform to bridge the gaps among students of various ethnic groups and as an investment to catalyse sustainable, long-term economic development of the country. 1MDB has initiated several projects under its Yayasan 1MDB education-based programme to give out scholarships, education grants and financial aid to qualified students from various communities.