KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, presented the 2025 Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship (BYDPA) to 13 students from institutions of higher learning at Istana Negara.
Ten recipients were awarded scholarships for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies and three received scholarships for Master’s (research) programmes yesterday.
Mohamad Fariz Haiqal Mohd Ruslan, who is pursuing a doctorate study in Pharmacology and Pharmacy at King’s College London, United Kingdom and Karen Low Ka Ling from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) received PhD scholarships.
Other PhD scholarship recipients were Muhammad Hamizan Zawawi (Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)), Muhamad Aiman Hakim Nor Khalid (Mathematics and Statistics, UKM), Sarah Dania Mohd Kahar (Commercial Law, Universiti Malaya (UM)), Teoh Shu Jou (Data Management, UM), Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Sukri (Biotechnology, USM), Nurul Angelyn Zulhairy Liong (Genetics and Heredity, UM), Nur Zakirah Jasni (Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Australia) and Nurfatima Azzahra Fadli (Biochemistry, UKM).
BYDPA recipients pursuing studies at the Master’s level are Fatini Nadiah Mohammad Zamzami (Biochemistry, UKM), Tiew Siew Jin (Biotechnology, UPM) and Yugashini P. Muhilan (Biomedical Materials, UKM).
The BYDPA is a prestigious national scholarship, introduced in 2006, to sponsor Malaysian citizens who excel academically and are actively involved in co-curricular activities.
To date, 20 scholarship cycles have been offered, benefiting 225 recipients – 117 at the PhD level and 108 at the Master’s level.
They received funding to pursue studies in fields such as Economics, Law, Science and Technology, Islamic Finance and Artificial Intelligence.
Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the department will conduct an impact study on the scholarship.
“We feel it is necessary to review the current needs in terms of the approach and the fields of study granted to future students,” he said, Bernama reported.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty for gracing the 2025 BYDPA presentation ceremony.
Meanwhile, Low, who serves as a pharmacist at Melaka Hospital, extended her utmost gratitude to the King for the scholarship, adding that she is determined to complete her studies and serve the country.
“We hope to complete our PhD and Master’s studies and contribute to our country, Malaysia,” Mohamad Fariz Haiqal added.
