BRIGHT FUTURE:Nor Mohamed (standing fifth from right) and Azura (fourth right) with East Malaysian scholarship recipients. Allister is standing at right.
PUTRAJAYA: Penan student Allister Tik Tony, 13, from Baram is now receiving his secondary education at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Kuching thanks to a Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera (YPPB) Peneraju Tunas Geliga scholarship.
The former SK Long Pelutan pupil, who hopes to be a pilot, scored 5A’s in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year.
“I am proud and excited to receive the scholarship and I am grateful to YPPB for sponsoring my studies. My dream to be a pilot will be achieved one day,” he told The Borneo Post.
Allister also excels in sports having won several gold medals, earning him the award of MRSM potential athlete.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and YPPB chief executive officer Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin presented the scholarships to deserving students during a ceremony here recently.
Nor Mohamed said the programme launched last October has so far offered scholarships to 111 UPSR holders nationwide with 11 from Sabah and Sarawak.
“The government is concerned about these brilliant students who have the potential but are not able to progress further due to poverty and difficulties in continuing their studies.
“Scholarship receivers do not necessarily have to score 5A’s in the UPSR but can be those who scored only three or four A’s living in challenging environment. The selected candidates for the scholarship will be placed under the Peneraju Tunas Geliga programme for five years from Form 1 to Form 5 to build the confidence and competitive edge with other students after Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM),” he said.
Azura added that RM2 million has been allocated to provide scholarships to the students, with the foundation bearing the school fees, providing basic schooling necessities and a monthly allowance of RM50.