YSD’s Scholarships and Bursaries Fulfill Dreams of 247 Students

The eldest son in his family, the former MRSM student who scored straight A’s for both Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) was forced to leave the boarding school and attend school in Banting to care for his sister and brother after the sudden demise of both his parents, a few months apart. 

Haziq’s mother, the late Pn. Siti Ruzlina Mohamed Yunus, was a former employee of Sime Darby Berhad for more than nine years before passing away due to brain cancer. 

“We all thought she was just sleeping but only later realised that she had slipped into a coma. It was a shock and surreal when we found out that she had brain cancer. I still cannot find the right words to describe how I felt at that time,” he said.

Before his mother’s death, while she was still in a coma, tragedy struck the family. His father who was looking after his mother at the hospital, collapsed after complaining of chest pains. He passed away a few hours later while his mother followed suit three months later.

Following their deaths, YSD immediately extended educational assistance to Haziq and his two other siblings to complete their secondary education. 

Currently a student of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) pursuing a diploma in Industrial Chemistry, Haziq said the bursary award spurred him to strive and do better to be able to provide the best for his family.

Despite living with a permanent disability due to a road accident that resulted in her losing her right arm and visibility on her right eye, Mira Adila Mat Saruji, 20, is firm in her resolve to excel and pursue her academic dreams. 

“I resented how I was treated with pity after the accident but thanks to my supportive and caring family, I pulled myself out of feeling sorry for myself and determined more than ever to succeed,” said the gutsy young lady. 

The admirable personality of Mira Adila’s never say die attitude could teach others a lesson in humility. She taught herself to write with her left hand with only a month left before sitting for her Sijil Tinggi Peperiksaan Malaysia (STPM). She made up for missed classes by constantly asking her teachers for extra classes whenever she could.

“Having a disability is not the end of the world. There is so much one can do as long as we don't limit ourselves,” said Mira Adila whose ambition is to pursue her studies in the field of economics at UiTM.

Growing up in two distinctive worlds – one being raised in Jalan Pudu, amongst drug peddlers, gang members and an unlawful environment; and the other, studying at one of the most prestigious government schools in Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang Girls School, opened Nurul Akmar Abdul Aziz’s eyes to the scales that tip between the injustice and misfortunes that the under-represented are subjected to and the privileges that the educated professionals experience. 

This is where, Nurul Akmar, 27, started developing a greater interest in special education, particularly in the education of the deaf. 

Nurul Akmar will be pursuing a two-year Master of Education degree programme in the Department of Health and Behaviour Studies with a specialisation in Deaf Education and Reading Specialist – a Dual Certification at the renowned Teachers College, Columbia University in the United States of America. Upon graduation, she aims to be the catalyst of change in education and policy development for the deaf. 

Wu Ziqian, 18, who hails from China was absolutely thrilled to discover that he was one of two lucky China citizens awarded the YSD Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship Programme to study in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). 

The scholarship award is a collaborative student exchange scholarship programme with the China Scholarship Council based in Beijing with seven scholarships being awarded to Malaysian students to study at top universities in China. 

Haziq, Mira Adila, Nurul Akmar and Wu Ziqian are among the 248 students who received their scholarships and bursaries awards worth more than RM15 million at a special ceremony held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) today.

36 students received scholarships worth RM8 million to pursue their pre-university and undergraduate studies at top universities in United Kingdom, United States and Malaysia including five students who have successfully completed their one-year foundation programmes at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and will start their undergraduate studies in September at top China universities, two Liberian students who are currently pursuing their engineering studies at UKM since February 2014 and eight Malaysians to study locally. 

Meanwhile, 173 students received bursaries worth more than RM6 million under the YSD Bursary Programme, which assists students from low-income families and those who are physically challenged to pursue tertiary education in any field of study at local public and private universities, including Ramsay Sime Darby Nursing and Health Sciences College. 

YSD also awarded Skill Enrichment scholarships worth more than RM1 million to 38 vocationally inclined students to pursue Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia Level 1, 2 and 3 in Heavy Equipment at the Sime Darby Industrial Academy branch in Miri, Sarawak for the second time to fulfil Sime Darby’s human capital needs in East Malaysia.

This year, the YSD “Star” Scholarship award marks the fifth year of YSD’s efforts in developing ‘potential stars’ in the field of arts, music, sports, environment and sciences in Malaysia. 

For the very first time, the prestigious ‘Star’ scholarship award was awarded to an arts talent, Muhammad Fairul Azreen Mohd Zahid, the first Malaysian who successfully auditioned and enrolled at the Tisch School of the Arts for a two-year Master of Fine Arts in Dance at the world-renowned New York University (NYU) in the US. 

This soft-spoken 26-year old dancer is nationally recognised amongst his peers, local arts professionals and the media as one of the most promising young artist and choreographers in Malaysia. 

YSD Governing Council member Tan Sri Dato' Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin said YSD has always placed emphasis on its Education pillar, which aims to promote educational equality to all regardless of their race, creed, gender and background.

“The YSD Education story is never ending. We are constantly meeting inspiring individuals who are seeking a chance to achieve their dreams but constantly halted by their challenging backgrounds or financial woes. At YSD, we extend our hand in support to guide these individuals in becoming scholars who can now focus on their drive and passion to chase their educational dreams,” he said during the awards ceremony today. 

Since its inception in 1982, YSD has empowered more than 2,500 young people through education with scholarships and bursaries worth more than RM217 million to date. The YSD Scholarship Programme focuses on individuals with outstanding academic achievement and strong leadership qualities and is in line with YSD’s efforts to identify and nurture a talent pool of high calibre future leaders not just locally but internationally, as well.

For further information please contact:

Ahmad Shahriman Johari
Head, External Communications
Group Communications & Corporate Affairs
Sime Darby Berhad
Tel: (603) 2711 0923 
Fax: (603) 2698 0645
E-mail: shahriman.johari@simedarby.com

Regina William
VP II, External Communications
Group Communications & Corporate Affairs
Sime Darby Berhad
Tel: (603) 2711 3895 
Fax: (603) 2698 0645
Email: regina.william@simedarby.com

Yayasan Sime Darby

Yayasan Sime Darby, or Sime Darby Foundation, was established in 1982 and is the primary driver of Sime Darby Berhad’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

The objectives of Yayasan Sime Darby are supported by its five pillars, namely: community and health; education; youth and sports; arts and culture; environment. While led by independent members of a Governing Council and managed by a dedicated team, Yayasan Sime Darby works closely with the Sime Darby Group, in areas of mutual interest.

Since its inception, Yayasan Sime Darby has awarded scholarships worth RM217 million to 2,519 students both in and outside Malaysia. It is supporting long term research projects of significant scientific value like the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project which is the world’s largest ecological project, a joint effort with the Royal Society (The UK and Commonwealth Academy of Science). Yayasan Sime Darby is also actively involved in the development and improvements of sports in Malaysia namely track cycling, lawn bowling, cricket, tennis and golf. Under its community & health pillar, Yayasan Sime Darby supports initiatives to promote the well-being of disadvantaged people irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed or gender and works with established organisations to promote the development of arts & culture.