CURRENTLY pursuing his pre-university studies at Melaka Matriculation College, Chua Pak Ron has a clear goal: to secure a spot to study agriculture at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
It is a goal he feels empowered to achieve, having scored 10As as a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2025 candidate.
The top scorer’s pathway to tertiary studies was not always clear, but that changed after he became a participant of Maxis’s Menuju Gemilang programme.
“It helped me realise that university was not just a dream, but something I could genuinely work towards.
“The programme was not only about improving my grades but also about recognising my true potential,” said Chua, who hopes to gain the knowledge needed to improve his family’s farm.
Chua was among 40 students from schools across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak who graduated from the inaugural Menuju Gemilang cohort after sitting for SPM 2025.
Developed in partnership with the Education Ministry, the initiative aims to empower underprivileged students to excel in the SPM while preparing them for higher education.
Despite completing the programme through a three-month fast-track format, the cohort achieved encouraging SPM results, according to the telecommunications company in a press release.
Compared with their trial examinations, the number of top scorers achieving 7As and above doubled to 33%, including four students who attained 9As or more, it added.
Lan You An, who scored 10As and is currently enrolled at Selangor Matriculation College, said Menuju Gemilang significantly improved his academic performance, especially in subjects such as History, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
“The tutors helped strengthen my understanding of the fundamentals and refine my answering techniques, giving me greater confidence in tackling my exams. Inspired by this experience, I am determined to pursue actuarial science at Universiti Malaya,” he said.
To support students in continuing their studies, Maxis is awarding a total of RM50,000 in education grants to the top performers.
The recent graduation ceremony, where Maxis chairman Datuk Johan Idris congratulated the students and offered words of encouragement, also welcomed 200 new students into the 2026 programme, bringing the total number of participants to 400.
Beyond academic tutoring, Menuju Gemilang prepares students for higher education through science, technology, engineering and mathematics camps and leadership bootcamps.
To provide continuous support, the initiative has been extended from 18 to 24 months, offering post-SPM guidance on education pathways and scholarship opportunities.
Each student is also provided with a laptop for use both during the programme and as they continue their studies.
Education Ministry deputy director-general of education Malaysia (school operations sector) Zainal Abas, who officiated at the ceremony on July 13, expressed hope that the next cohort will be inspired to aim even higher.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. Aligning with the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026-2035, this partnership empowers underserved youths to become skilled, well-rounded individuals ready for university life. Today’s graduates prove what is possible given the right support,” he said.
Maxis chief corporate affairs officer Azizul Abdul Rahman reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering Malaysia’s next generation.
“We built Menuju Gemilang to break down barriers, ensuring university aspirations are attainable for high-potential students from all backgrounds. We are incredibly proud of the graduates and look forward to supporting the incoming intake,” he said.
Menuju Gemilang is an expansion of Maxis eKelas, the company’s flagship digital learning initiative for B40 communities.
Launched in 2025, the programme welcomed 240 students from 20 Education Ministry-selected schools across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak. Participants were selected based on academic performance, extracurricular involvement and leadership potential.
