AFTER months of waiting and two rejections from other education funds, 21-year-old Muhammad Salihin Hakkim Mohamed had quietly resigned himself to the thought that tertiary funding was simply out of reach.
As the eldest of four siblings from Penang – with his father running a modest small business and mother working at a bank front desk – the financial weight of university life loomed heavily over his household.
“When you apply for scholarships, you put so much hope into them,” Salihin recalled.
“I had tried applying for other funds twice and didn’t get through, which was really disheartening. When two or three months passed after my application to AIA (Penyala Harapan Scholarship Programme), I thought, ‘Maybe there’s no rezeki for me this time either.’
Then one day, an email arrived saying, ‘Congratulations, you have been accepted.’ I was in disbelief.
That life-changing notification opened a new door for Salihin, turning an uncertain road into a focused path forward as the scholarship offered financial peace of mind.
“With our living expenses taken care of, money worries no longer hold me back,” he said.
“It gives me the freedom to actively develop myself. My ultimate goal is to become an investment banker, and if the opportunity arises, build a business of my own.”
Salihin was one of the first-year degree students from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) to receive the inaugural AIA Penyala Harapan Scholarship.
The presentation ceremony was held recently to honour the first cohort of 20 IIUM scholars, with a total scholarship funding of RM1.6mil.
Similarly for Sarah Amalia Mohd Sahid, having end-to-end funding that covers both full tuition fees and living stipends for up to four years helps with the daily friction of student living costs.
The 20-year-old is the eldest of three siblings from Bagan Serai, Perak, and is heading into her second year of Islamic Finance.
“Aside from tuition aid, being an undergraduate comes with recurring daily expenses,” Sarah explained, whose father is a factory manager and mother, a homemaker.
“The monthly allowance provided through the scholarship is substantial. It means I don’t have to constantly worry about everyday financial constraints or place a burden on my parents, allowing me to pour all my focus into my studies.
“It motivates me to prove that the trust placed in us is well-deserved.”
Sarah aims to build a career in the banking sector or in multinational corporations.
Turning protection into potential
Launched in October 2025 by AIA Public Takaful Bhd, the scholarship is powered by a unique takaful mechanism.
It is funded through surplus donations contributed by AIA Public Takaful certificate holders to the AIA Penyala Harapan Charity Fund, a fund that supports charitable causes to help improve the well-being of communities across the country.
Through their voluntary contributions, certificate holders collectively turn underwriting surpluses into educational opportunities for aspiring Malaysian youths.
AIA Public Takaful chief executive officer Mohd Asri Omar noted that the programme aims to cultivate well-rounded personal resilience.
“In less than a year, the AIA Penyala Harapan Scholarship Programme has grown from supporting a single cohort to partnering with two of Malaysia’s leading universities. This reflects our aspiration to create more opportunities for promising and deserving students to pursue higher education,” he said.
“While financial assistance is at the heart of this programme, our focus extends beyond funding their education.
“Through mentorship, industry exposure and career readiness initiatives, we hope to better prepare our scholars for life after university, equipping them with the skills, confidence and experiences needed to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and competitive workforce,” added Mohd Asri, noting that the initiative aligns with AIA’s purpose of helping people live ‘Healthier, Longer, Better Lives’.
Widening the talent pool across diverse disciplines
Following the successful launch of the scholarship, AIA Public Takaful announced the expansion of the programme with an additional RM3.2mil in funding, as well as welcomed its second partner institution alongside IIUM, Universiti Malaya (UM).
Through this, RM1.6mil will fund the second cohort of 20 scholars from IIUM starting October this year, while another RM1.6mil supports UM’s inaugural intake of 20 scholars.
This brings the programme’s total reach to 60 scholars with RM4.8mil in scholarship funding to date.
The addition of UM significantly broadens the academic umbrella beyond its initial focus at IIUM, which supports Bachelor of Laws, Islamic Banking and Islamic Finance degrees.
At UM, eligible courses now include Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Economics, Accounting, Finance, Medicine, Surgery, Nursing Science, and Business Administration.
UM deputy vice-chancellor of academic and international Prof Dr Hasniza Zaman Huri, emphasised that academic access must be democratised for deserving students regardless of socio-economic standing.
“As a university dedicated to nurturing future talent, we believe every student with the potential to succeed should have the opportunity to pursue their ambitions, regardless of their financial circumstances,” Prof Hasniza said.
She added that the initiative complements UM’s Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and its LEADER (Laureate, Ethical, Analytical, Dynamic, Empathetic, Resilient) graduate framework.
“These are qualities our future leaders need, and they cannot be developed by universities alone. They are strengthened when universities, industry and society work together.”
Reinforcing this values-driven philosophy, IIUM student development and community engagement deputy rector Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Fauzan Noordin reminded scholars of the broader responsibility they shoulder.
“Being the ‘Penyala Harapan’ is not just for yourselves, but for your families, society and ultimately the nation,” he stated, highlighting the four pillars of student sustainability: spiritual, physical, intellectual and financial.
Candidate selection is evaluated holistically by the respective university sponsorship units based on academic merit, household financial need and demonstrated future aspirations.
Eligible students enrolled into the specified degree courses at IIUM and Universiti Malaya are encouraged to apply through their respective universities’ sponsorship and scholarship divisions.
For more info, visit www.aia.com.my.
