
2023 KLK Foundation scholars at the awards ceremony in Mutiara Damansara.
KUALA Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) awarded scholarships to 12 promising Malaysian students through its KLK Foundation Scholarship Programme.
The scholarships amounting to approximately RM620,500 were awarded at a ceremony in Menara KLK in Mutiara Damansara, Selangor.
To date, KLK has awarded scholarships to 471 students since 1977.
In addition to fund support, scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to contribute to KLK’s diverse operations upon completing their education.
KLK Group plantations director Patrick Ng said, “We want to create a lasting, positive impact on the communities where we operate, in addition to those within our global workforce.
“We always place people first and in KLK, we believe in unlocking talent by providing opportunities so that the success of an individual can inspire many others and hopefully also contribute back to the community.
“Education is certainly the key to open doors and pave the way for growth, unleash untapped potential and create new pathways for advancement.”
He added that the company believed their scholarship would ease the financial burden of deserving students.
The group said it was committed to creating pathways for individuals and communities that might lack access to such educational opportunities, as education was also a pillar within the four corporate responsibility focus areas adopted at KLK.
Ong Jian Yi, a KLK Foundation scholar studying electrical engineering at Universiti Malaya, said, “Following my matriculation, I took on part-time jobs to alleviate my parents’ financial strain.
“My father, who is a farmer in Ipoh, is my role model and he has inspired me to pursue higher education.
“He instilled in me the belief that while our family may be economically humble, we are not poorly educated.
“Becoming the first in my family to secure financial aid for education, I am grateful for this scholarship and the opportunities provided by KLK Foundation.
“I am confident that these resources will guide me towards achieving my ambitions and make my parents proud.”
Pravin V. Nilavarasan, another KLK Foundation scholar pursuing a degree in finance at Universiti Utara Malaysia in Kedah, said, “It is an honour for me to receive this scholarship award from KLK. With this scholarship, I am able to be the first in my family to continue pursuing my tertiary education.
“I hope to contribute to my family upon completiing my degree and continue the cycle by giving back to the community.”