M’sian named latest Rhodes scholar

A MALAYSIAN student has been awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for Malaysia.

A junior majoring in economics and history at Columbia University in the United States, Ahmad Arman Al Huzaifi Shakir Husein (pic) will join next year’s class of Rhodes Scholars at Oxford University in October 2022.

Being a firm believer in the power of historical and statistical thinking in formulating effective policies, he hopes to pursue a master’s degree in economic and social history, and another in economics for development, at Oxford.

Upon graduating, Ahmad Arman plans to join Bank Negara Malaysia as a graduate trainee, crafting policies for a more resilient, sustainable and equitable post-Covid-19 economy.

Established in 2016, the Rhodes Scholarship for Malaysia is a partnership between the Rhodes Trust and Yayasan Khazanah (YK), providing sponsorship to Malaysians to pursue postgraduate studies at Oxford University in perpetuity.

Rhodes Trust warden Elizabeth Kiss said the scholars chosen every year come from a vast array of backgrounds and have attained remarkable accomplishments in a wide range of fields, from physics to philosophy, medicine to history, engineering to anthropology.

“It is that diversity of background and thinking that makes our community special.

“What unites them is their curiosity, character, academic excellence and their desire to make a difference,” she said.

YK senior vice president Intan Zalila Mohd Yusof said despite the ongoing global health pandemic, Ahmad Arman still sought ways to empower his fellow students to contribute to the community.

“This is a strong reflection of his determination and passion to alleviate societal challenges. “We look forward to hearing about Arman’s success stories at Rhodes, and witnessing the transformative impact he will make in society in the future,” she said.

In the wake of the pandemic, Ahmad Arman founded MRA Siswa, the student-led wing of the Malaysian Relief Agency that empowers university students to volunteer in six different fields of service.

He is also the founding editor-in-chief of Econsilience, a multidisciplinary undergraduate research journal publishing original works on Malaysian and Asean issues.

YK is currently the only organisation in Malaysia partnering the Rhodes Trust, with the shared vision to nurture public-spirited leaders for the future.

To date, eight Malaysians have been awarded the scholarship.

The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s preeminent and oldest graduate fellowship based at Oxford University since 1903.