This year’s recipients of PIDM scholarships gather for a photo-call.24
KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-one undergraduates across various disciplines have been awarded with Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) scholarships this year, bringing the total to 144 since the establishment of the programme a decade ago.
Academic merit remains a discerning criterion for the applicants, but the recipients of the PIDM Undergraduate Scholarship Programme are also selected based on their financial background, personal strengths and their drive to succeed. Beneficiaries of the programme are from the B40 income group. In addition, PIDM has also awarded a scholarship to a recipient under its scholarship programme for employees’ children.
“The programme is our commitment towards elevating the lives of young people with the potential to reach greater heights,” said PIDM chief executive officer Rafiz Azuan Abdullah.
“Scholarship programmes are highly coveted but they can also be highly competitive, making it a challenge for those who have less of a competitive edge due to financial impediments. The PIDM scholarship emphasises on the availability of financial access for candidates and provides them with the necessary resources to complete their higher education studies.”
Mohamad Ishairullah Ya’acob from Muar, Johor, is this year’s oldest candidate, at 23 years old. Due to financial issues, he was unable to continue studying after completing his foundation studies, and sought employment as a security guard at a bank branch for more than two years to support his family.
“It was not an easy journey, juggling work with studies. In between, I managed to complete my diploma in business administration and now, thanks to PIDM, I can continue with my degree studies,” he said, adding that the scholarship has further fuelled his passion to become an economist.
“I consider PIDM’s chairman, Tan Sri Dr Rahamat Bivi Yusoff, as one of my role models in this field especially when I discovered that she too, studied economics as a student. I would like to prove to everyone that with determination, I can achieve just as much.”
Ishairullah is currently pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Business Economics at the Universiti Teknologi Mara Kota Bharu Campus in Kelantan.
Lokya Ting, 18, from Sarawak, also grew up in challenging circumstances. Her father worked as a construction site manager before he was diagnosed with colon cancer, forcing him into early retirement.
As Lokya’s mother is also unable to work due to her physical disabilities, the family is selling baked goods at her father’s previous construction site daily to make ends meet.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity from PIDM. I plan to make the best out of the programme, in particular, the internship and mentoring opportunities that are given to the scholars,” she said.
Lokya is currently pursuing Bachelor of Law (Hons) at Universiti Utara Malaysia in Kedah.
The PIDM scholarship programme was established in 2010 to provide bond-free scholarships to deserving individuals.