Yayasan Sime Darby Donates RM3 million for Underprivileged Students through 'Program Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa'

The announcement was made today by YSD’s Chairman, YABhg. Tun Musa Hitam, who presented a mock cheque to the Vice Chancellor of UiTM, YBhg. Dato' Prof. Ir. Dr. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar at a special ceremony held at UiTM Malacca branch. The Chairman of UiTM Board, YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Wan Mohd. Zahid Mohd. Noordin and the Chief Minister of Malacca, YB Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam were also present to witness the meaningful ceremony.

The contribution from YSD is in line with two of its support pillars which are Education and Community Development. YSD consistently encourages education at all levels and support programmes that promote the well-being of the community, particularly those who are less fortunate, irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed or gender.

In his speech, Tun Musa said, “These underprivileged youths have been given a chance to alleviate themselves from the clutches of poverty via education. YSD strongly believes that education plays an important role in enabling and empowering them to fulfill their dreams and provide a glimpse of hope to better the livelihood of their families too.”

“I am pleased to know that UiTM has worked hard in customising the programmes to suit the learning agilities of these students. Not only will the students study science, commerce or accounts subjects, they will also go through soft skills training that will further strengthen their all-round development,” added Tun Musa, who was Malaysia’s Education Minister before he became Deputy Prime Minister.

“YSD’s financial support, which is an allowance of RM1,700 per student, per semester, would ease their financial burden, therefore allowing them to be more focused in completing their six-month course here at UiTM. I look forward to hear good news of them completing the MDAB programme with flying colours, and perhaps further their studies at diploma, degree or even doctorate level.”
Among those benefitting from YSD’s assistance is first semester student of Diploma in Banking from UiTM Malacca, Nurfarahain Nazlin, 19. Nurfarahain scored 4.00 for her Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) during her Pre-Diploma under MDAB programme. From Klang, Selangor, she is the youngest child of four siblings. Her father is a retired postman who is currently suffering from arthritis and her mother is a full time housewife.

Another student is Juzaedah Saleh, 19, from Kampung Melekek in Alor Gajah, Malacca. Her father, Saleh Mohd Isa is an odd job worker who struggles to make ends meet for his wife and seven children. Juzaedah also has to help take care of her mother and eldest sister, who both suffer from epilepsy. She was selected to enrol in the November 2011 batch of MDAB programme, and is currently pursuing the Pre-Diploma Commerce course at UiTM Malacca.

UiTM has established the fund for the MDAB programme since July 2010 and currently carries out three (3) pre-diploma courses, which are Pre-Commerce, Pre-Accountancy and Pre-Science at sixteen (16) UiTM branches nationwide. The students benefitting from MDAB fund come from poor families with a total family income of less than RM2,000 and cannot afford the tuition fees and day-to-day expenses. Furthermore, these students are those whose academic qualifications do not meet the minimum requirements to qualify for existing pre-university courses in Malaysia. The programme provides these less fortunate students with education opportunities that they would never have received elsewhere.