for malaysia: Mohamed Khaled together with students flashing the 1Malaysia sign after the presentation ceremony. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: The Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation (YTAR) has spent not less than RM3.8 million in various forms of financial aid to enable over 600 students to pursue higher education this year.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said they included six recipients of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship who would receive a monthly allowance of RM1,000, besides having their study fees and others fees to attend various programmes and seminars being taken care of.
“Starting this year, in a bid to make it a really prestigious and exclusive scholarship, the scholarship recipients are also compelled to maintain the minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.75 as compared to only 3.5 previously,” he said at the presentation of YTAR financial aid at the ministry yesterday.
At a press conference later, Mohamed Khaled, who is also YTAR Board of Trustees chairman said, 800 applications were received for the scholarship, but only 300 were shortlisted and six were chosen as the recipients.
However, he said this year YTAR had also awarded Tunku Abdul Rahman Study Grants to 39 students who would receive a monthly allowance of RM500, besides having their study fees being taken care off, but were also compelled to maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.5 in university.
Mohamed Khaled said another 20 selected undergrads at each public institutions of higher learning in the country, who hailed from poor families, would receive RM300 a month for 10 months under the Tunku Abdul Rahman Education Aid.
The minister said YTAR had also spent RM488,500 to help 124 excellent graduates from underprivileged families, to repay part of their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan through the Tunku Abdul Rahman Graduates Aid.
Each graduate received between RM3,500 and RM4,000, he said.
Mohamed Khaled said the scholarship, grants, aid and awards would continue to be given to students in this country with the amount depending on the allocation.
YTAR was established in 1966 for the purpose of providing financial aid to eligible students to enable them to pursue higher education. — Bernama