Harapan Nusantara puts up RM100m to benefit Malay students

KUALA LUMPUR: Harapan Nusantara Sdn Bhd, a trust created to hold Maxis Communication Berhad shares for bumiputras, has set aside RM100mil for education as part of its venture to benefit the bumiputra community. 

Harapan Nusantara director Datuk Badri Masri said two initial projects were planned, one of which was for bumiputra students to pursue twinning programmes at private universities and colleges.  

A sum of RM10mil would be set aside annually for this twining programme.  

Badri said some 100 students would benefit annually from next year, and the programme would be implemented in collaboration with the local colleges. 

“In addition, a sum of RM5mil will be established specifically for bumiputra managers and professionals to pursue executive programmes at Harvard Business School,” he said. 

The RM100mil which Harapan Nusantara will use for its education fund will come from Maxis shares the company sold recently. 

It sold a 10% block of Maxis shares to three government funds – Employees Provident Fund, Tabung Haji and Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen for RM1.3bil. Following the sale, Harapan Nusantara’s stake in Maxis had been reduced to 14%. 

This is not the first time, Usaha Tegas has made generous donations for education. 

The company had endowed RM20mil to the Malaysian Community Education Foundation which has given loans to over 1,000 students for their higher education.