The Yayasan Tenaga Nasional Sponsorship Award Ceremony 2025 celebrated the achievements of the new scholars.—Photos by SAMUEL ONG/The Star
FOR Angeliana Ubau Anak Winston Tachil, the dream of studying overseas once felt out of reach.
When the 18-year-old Sarawakian received news that she had been awarded the prestigious PRIME Scholarship from Yayasan Tenaga Nasional (YTN), she was on the way home with her mother, Angeline Aslin Sera.
“I was so surprised,” recalls Angeliana. I waited until we got home to tell my mum because I didn’t want to startle her.
With the MyBF Sponsorship, Surendran can study without adding financial strain on his parents.
“We cried in the car; it was such an emotional moment.”
As the youngest of three siblings, Angeliana is the first in her family to pursue university studies abroad.
She is now preparing for a twinning programme at the University of Southampton in Johor, beginning her journey toward a degree in Electrical Power Engineering.
Angeline, a primary school mathematics teacher, is equally proud.
“She has always been very disciplined and hardworking. I just provided moral support, financial backing for tuition and extra classes and made sure she had the time and resources to succeed. This scholarship validates all her efforts,” she says.
Angeliana discovered YTN through social media after coming across fellow scholars who shared their experiences.
She hopes to raise awareness among other students from Sarawak and Sabah about the opportunities offered by YTN.
Her achievement was formally recognised at the Yayasan Tenaga Nasional Sponsorship Award Ceremony 2025, a celebration of the new scholars’ accomplishments.
SHINE scholar Katreena is motivated to excel in her cybersecurity studies.
A brighter future
For Surendran Muniandy, the YTN My Brighter Future (MyBF) sponsorship has been life-changing in a different way.
Coming from a household reliant on a single income, the cost of living and studying far from home had been a significant concern.
“If I hadn’t received the sponsorship, I would have had to consider options closer to home, which would still have been costly,” explains Surendran’s mother, Thachaini Rajendran.
“The sponsorship covers all his tuition fees for the two-and-a-half-year diploma programme, easing our worries and allowing him to focus on his studies.”
Surendran, now pursuing a diploma in Information Technology, says the sponsorship allows him to focus on his studies without adding financial strain to his parents, who are already supporting his older sibling at university, while easing plans for his younger brother’s education.
His mother adds, “He has grown so much. His attitude toward learning is more serious, and he has become more responsible. We are proud that he is achieving something we could not.”
PRIME scholar Angeliana is preparing for her degree through a twinning programme at the University of Southampton, Johor.
Motivation meets opportunity
For other scholars, YTN’s support goes a step further, offering clearer pathways into future careers, as seen in the experiences of SHINE scholars Muhamad Danial Haziq Mohd Jamel and Katreena Chetri Ramesh Bahadoor.
Danial, a second-year Computer Science student at UNITEN, had been juggling part-time work alongside his studies before receiving the SHINE sponsorship.
As someone interested in cybersecurity, he says the sponsorship allows him to concentrate on his studies while considering future opportunities, including working with TNB and eventually building his own startup.
Similarly, Katreena, also studying cybersecurity at UNITEN, says the sponsorship has motivated her to stay focused on her studies, knowing she has been entrusted with the opportunity.
SHINE sponsorships are structured to encourage academic excellence. Students retain support as long as they maintain the required GPA, combining financial assistance with accountability and personal growth.
With the SHINE Sponsorship, Danial balances his studies without financial stress, eyeing future opportunities.
Commitment to access and nation-building
Established in 1993 by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), YTN plays a vital role in expanding access to tertiary education in Malaysia.
Through its scholarship programme, YTN has supported over 20,900 students in fields such as engineering, computer science, accounting and technical education, with nearly RM2.0bil invested in education and welfare to date.
The organisation’s multi-tiered approach ensures that students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and regions can pursue higher education:
> PRIME Scholarship: Merit-based, full support for high-achieving students, including opportunities to study overseas with potential career pathways at TNB.
> SHINE Sponsorship: Comprehensive tuition coverage complemented by structured financial support. This includes a monthly living allowance as well as allowances for learning materials, equipment and computers, for students pursuing foundation, diploma or undergraduate programmes.
> My BRIGHTER FUTURE (MyBF): Targeted at students from lower-income families, providing full financial support without repayment obligations.
> MyBF Junior (from 2025): Early support for students in technical secondary schools, encouraging pathways into technical and vocational education.
From students to future leaders
Across all four stories, a common thread emerges: the scholarship is an enabler, allowing students to turn ambition into opportunity.
Angeliana’s overseas dream, Surendran’s family upliftment and Danial and Katreena’s career-driven aspirations show how YTN scholarships make education accessible, equitable and transformative.
Angeline stresses that discipline and consistency played a key role in her daughter’s journey, adding that students need to plan their studies, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and put in sustained effort.
For parents like Thachaini, the scholarships are more than financial relief.
“We may not have had the chance to study ourselves, but through our children, we hope for a brighter future,” she says.
YTN’s scholarships not only support students and families but also contribute to Malaysia’s human capital development, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to social responsibility, equity and nation-building.
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