Our Tunku scholars

By KAREN CHAPMAN 

ONE holds a black belt in taekwondo while another is a debater. Then, there is a keen rugby player and one who spends time with the disabled. 

But they all have one thing in common – they are among the first group to be awarded the Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation scholarship,carefully selected based on academic merit, participation in co-curricular activities and leadership skills.  

Recipients of the scholarships are known as Tunku scholars. 

The pioneerbatch of Tunkuscholars include(from left) Paul,Siti Zaleha, YuFang and MohdFaiz.

The foundation will pay all their university fees and give them a monthly allowance of RM1,000 each.  

A law student at International Islamic University Malaysia, Mohd Faiz Omar is thankful to be in the first batch of Tunku scholars. 

“As the eldest in my family, I want to set a good example for my younger siblings,” he says. 

He holds a black belt in taekwondo, is a member of the zapin club at the university, and hopes to become a judge in future. 

“When I graduate, I hope to join the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

“I may even open my own firm some day. 

"We have highexpectationsof Tunkuscholars" -DATUK MUSTAPA MOHAMED

“I also hope to serve the people in my community,” he adds. 

A keen debater since her school days, Siti Zaleha Misnan turned down an opportunity to study overseas as she prefers to remain in Malaysia. 

“When I was offered the course on remote sensing at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, I opted to take up that programme rather than do something I wasn’t interested in,” she says. 

A committee member at her residential college, Siti Zaleha has also completed a stint as a presenter for a local television station. 

“I plan to save as much of my RM1,000 allowance as possible as I hope to do my Master’s degree in the same field soon.” 

Another pioneer Tunku scholar is Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s (UMT) food science student Paul Tung.  

A member of the Golden Key Society, which recognises students on the dean’s list, he also sits on the student representative council. 

“I want to go into hotel management when I graduate,” he says.  

“I hope to work at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which is considered one of the best hotels in the world.”  

Paul also plans to save the bulk of his allowance, after using some of it to repay his earlier National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) study loan. 

Although Chai Yu Fang did not get a chance to do a degree in physiotherapy, her first choice of study programme, she is happy that she was offered occupational therapy at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as that will enable her to help patients become more independent. 

“I also do volunteer work with children with special needs. I train them to eat and bathe on their own,” she says. 

Ready to help 

Foundation chief executive Tengku Ab Aziz Tengku Zainal says the foundation plans to create a sense of trust by getting the scholars to e-mail their results to show that they are maintaining a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.5. 

“Everything is based on trust. 

“We don’t want the students to feel we are looking over their shoulders but they should know we are here for them should they need advice or assistance,” he adds. 

In fact, one of the first things Tengku Ab Aziz did after the recipients had received their awards was to phone and enquire if they were settling down well. 

This impressed UMT’s environmental technology student and Tunku scholar A. Thishalini.  

“I like the fact that he cares enough to call.  

“He also encourages us to e-mail him in English so that we can improve our proficiency in the language,” she says. 

Thishalini will be returning earlier to the university as she is one of the facilitators helping new students to settle down. 

“The other scholars and I got to know each other better during a recent motivation camp. 

“We first met when we received the awards, but we have been keeping in touch through e-mail and SMS,” she adds. 

The main purpose of the three-day motivation camp held recently in Tanjung Sepat was to forge a bond among the scholars. 

Applications now open 

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed explains that the foundation previously offered loans. 

“But since we now have PTPTN, we decided to provide scholarships instead,” he says, adding that he wants the scholarships to be exclusive and prestigious. 

“That is why scholarship recipients are known as Tunku scholars, just as recipients of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship are known as Fulbright scholars.”  

“When I visited the camp, I advised the scholars to work hard so as to distinguish themselves. 

“I told them they were selected based on their potential as future leaders. 

“We have high expectations of them,” he adds.  

Mustapa also wants to change the trend of top students wanting to study overseas.  

“We hope that by providing these scholarships and allowances, we can reverse the trend,” he says. 

Scholars have to serve in Malaysia for five years, either in the public or private sector. 

They can continue their studies overseas but they must come back to serve the bond. 

Applications for the scholarships are now open.  

To apply, students in both public and private institutions of higher learning must have completed the first year of their degree programmes with a CGPA of 3.5; possess leadership skills; and be active in co-curricular activities. 

The closing date is July 15.  

For details, visit www.yayasantar.org.my 

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