THE Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang has launched the fifth edition of its “Bond of China-Malaysia Friendship” financial aid programme, offering RM1,500 to each deserving student in four northern states.
The scheme is open to high-achieving students from underprivileged families at independent Chinese high schools in Penang, Kedah and Perak, as well as pupils from Chinese primary schools in Perlis.
Chinese Vice-Consul General in Penang Ding Qiao said over 600 students have benefitted from the programme to date.
“Assistance was initially RM2,000 per student but was later adjusted to RM1,500 to allow more students to benefit,” she said after presenting festive goodies to staff members of Star Media Group (SMG) at The Star Pitt St in Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling in George Town.
Ding said travel interest in Penang had grown following the Malaysia-China visa exemption arrangement, with increasing direct air connectivity between Penang and Chinese cities.
She said Penang now had direct flights to eight Chinese cities – Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Qingdao and Chongqing.
Haikou will become the ninth direct destination when Hainan Airlines launches its Penang service on Oct 11.
“With more direct flights, the number of tourists, business travellers and short-term visitors has increased,” she said.
Ding said more than 100 Chinese companies were operating in the northern region, adding that the consulate helped facilitate their engagement by providing information on investment policies and connecting them with relevant parties.
She also said the number of Chinese students at Universiti Sains Malaysia had exceeded 6,000, reflecting growing interest in Malaysia as a higher education destination.
During the meeting, SMG client brand marketing (bureaus) general manager Simone Liong shared the progress of The Star over the years and how it has grown into the country’s largest English-language daily by readership.
She also briefed Ding on future collaboration plans in the pipeline involving SMG and its subsidiaries.
Also present was SMG deputy news editor Tan Sin Chow.
