PETALING JAYA: When she was a young student, Rheaa Kaur Dhaliwal Inderjit Singh was already aware of her family’s financial difficulties.
“We had to wait to buy certain school supplies and rely on government assistance just to pay for things. We also rarely went on trips,” the 18-year-old said.
Her father, the family’s sole breadwinner, works as a driver for a delivery services company to support the family of five.
“He is a person with special needs, having only two fingers on his right hand due to a mishap in his younger years. Most companies he applied to wouldn’t hire him,” she said, adding that her mother has been unable to secure employment because she is not a Malaysian citizen.
Their financial difficulties, and her experiences of not being able to buy what she wanted, motivated Rheaa to study hard.
Academic excellence: The Star Education Fund 2025 scholarship award presentation ceremony at Menara Star, where 81 scholarships were awarded with a total value of RM6.9mil. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Her efforts paid off when she received her straight-A Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results, paving the way for her to apply for the Star Education Fund scholarship.
Having successfully obtained it, Rheaa is now pursuing the Foundation in Arts leading to a Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) at HELP University.
“Honestly, I would not be able to study at a high-level university without this scholarship. It has significantly reduced financial stress for my family, as I still have two younger sisters in school.
“It also allows me to focus fully on my studies and personal development,” the Kuala Lumpur native said at the Star Education Fund scholarship award presentation ceremony for 2025 at Menara Star here yesterday.
Rheaa encouraged students not to hesitate in applying for a scholarship.
“Believe in yourself and stay consistent in your efforts. Being sincere and determined makes a difference,” she said.
Rheaa (left) and Wong showing off their scholarship certificates. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Fellow student Wong Ka Mun is also cherishing the opportunity to pursue tertiary studies as a Star Education Fund scholarship recipient.
The 20-year-old Johorean, in pursuit of her dream of studying pharmacy, worked as a dental clinic assistant to save money while searching for scholarships that could fully pay for her desired degree.
“My 65-year-old father works as a mechanic, while my 56-year-old mother’s income is unstable – sometimes working as a babysitter, other times earning a living through recycling. I knew that pursuing a pharmacy degree would place an overwhelming financial burden on them,” she said.
Even after facing multiple rejections to her scholarship applications, Wong refused to give up. Her determination bore fruit when she received news of her success with the Star Education Fund, earning her a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at Monash University Malaysia.
“Words cannot fully express the surprise, relief and gratitude I felt in that moment. With this scholarship, the major hurdle my family faced – the financial constraints of covering my degree studies – will be greatly eased,” she said.
Looking ahead, she hopes to serve the public through volunteering, reaching out to the needy and providing healthcare education, beyond striving for academic excellence.
“I also hope to inspire others from similar backgrounds to turn adversity into triumph,” she said.
Since its inception in 1994, the Star Education Fund has benefited 4,601 scholarship recipients, with a total value of RM176mil.
Star Media Group group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt said 81 scholarships valued at RM6.9mil were awarded for the 2025 scholarship cycle.
“As the ‘people’s paper’, we have always cherished our role in strengthening the community, particularly through education,” he said.
At the ceremony, Chan also launched the Star Education Fund Scholarship Awards 2026.
“I’m happy to announce that the outlook for 2026 is looking strong and we will be offering 217 scholarships valued at over RM14.71mil. For this, I’d like to thank our 29 partners-in-education,” he said.
The fund will be running for the 33rd consecutive year this year, with applications opening on March 1.
