WHEN his public university applications fell through, Anthony David (pic) thought his path to tertiary education had come to an abrupt end.
Raised in a modest household, there was no financial buffer to fall back on.
His father was a government servant with Kuala Lumpur City Hall, his mother a homemaker, and the family’s limited income had to stretch to support two younger sisters and two grandmothers living under the same roof.
Private college was simply out of reach.
“I genuinely believed I would get a public university placement,” he recalled. “When that didn’t happen, it was devastating.”
The next logical step was to start work and set aside his academic ambitions.
But a close friend urged him not to give up, pointing him towards the Star Education Fund – a decision that would ultimately redefine his future.
Anthony applied for a scholarship in 1998, holding on to a quiet hope that someone might recognise his potential. When the offer came, it was more than financial relief.
“It felt like someone had opened a door I thought was already closed. It was also a message – that someone believed I could go further,” said the now 46-year-old impact consultant.
Under the fund, he pursued a certificate and diploma in information technology, followed by a bachelor’s degree in computing, and later a Master of Business Administration in International Business from the University of East London.
With the scholarship lifting the most immediate burden – tuition fees – Anthony took on tuition jobs to support himself, balancing work and academics with discipline and determination.
More importantly, the opportunity reshaped his sense of self.
“Coming from a modest background, it’s easy to believe certain dreams are not meant for you.
“The scholarship broke that belief,” he said.
That shift in mindset proved transformative. What began as a second chance at education evolved into a career that spans continents and sectors.
Starting out at Star Publications (M) Bhd, Anthony worked on education and scholarship initiatives – an early exposure that sparked his interest in how opportunities are created through systems and partnerships.
His journey then expanded into international development and ecosystem building. He worked across regions on digital inclusion initiatives and later joined the United Nations Development Programme in Egypt as a social entrepreneurship specialist.
There, he designed programmes supporting young innovators, built cross-sector partnerships, and helped position social entrepreneurship within broader development agendas.
After returning to Malaysia, he co-founded Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur, led national initiatives commissioned by the Finance Ministry and the Public Service Department, and headed the Malaysian Business Angel Network to strengthen the investment ecosystem.
He also served as head of strategy and government relations at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation. Now, he is a coach for accelerator programmes across Asean.
The scholarship, he noted, changed what could have been a dead end into a full journey.
“The ripple effect is hard to overstate,” he said.
Yet beyond professional success, Anthony takes pride in something deeper – that he has honoured the opportunity by giving back to the community, even serving as founding president of the Star Education Fund Alumni.
For him, the scholarship is about unlocking potential and creating pathways.
“It shaped the kind of person I wanted to become – someone who keeps building opportunities for others,” he said.
This feature is part of a series highlighting beneficiaries of the Star Education Fund (SEF), in celebration of Star Media Group’s 55th anniversary. Since its inception in 1994, the SEF has benefited 4,601 scholarship recipients, with a total value of RM176mil. Applications for the 2026 edition are now open at https://www.thestar.com.my/edufund. For enquiries, email edufund@thestar.com.my or call 03‑7967 1388 ext 1466.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1. Being a good friend means offering support when a friend is feeling down. In what ways has a friend supported you during difficult times, or how have you supported a friend in return?
2. “Paying it forward” means passing on the kindness or help you have received by helping someone else. How have you paid it forward in your own life?
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
