Kuala Lumpur, 29th September 2014 – At the Hong Leong Group (the “Group”) Scholarship Awards today, a total of 131 deserving students were awarded with scholarships valued at close to RM7.1million. The scholarships were awarded through the Hong Leong Foundation Scholarship Programme and the Hong Leong Group Scholarship Programme. Present during the event was Quek Sue Yian, the Executive Director of the Hong Leong Foundation and Head of Group Corporate Social Responsibility Department, who also presented the awards to the students.

“Access to education has the power to even the playing field as such our Education components comprise of tertiary, masters, ROAR Education Development Programme and After School Care programme,” said Sue Yian.

The Hong Leong Foundation (“the Foundation”) awards scholarships for diploma and undergraduate studies annually to Malaysian students from underprivileged backgrounds, strongly encouraging in particular people living with disabilities to apply. This year, the Foundation awarded RM6.4 million in scholarships to 82 high performing school leavers and those already studying in institutes of higher learning, including people living with disabilities and from homes and shelters.

With the introduction of the Foundation’s new ‘Reach Out and Rise’ (ROAR) Education Development Programme, the award also saw a total of 40 students being awarded RM2million over the course of four years in scholarships to pursue Diploma/ Degree programmes in reputable private institutions. This scholarship comprises of support for academic fees as well as a comprehensive mentorship and guidance programme with SOLS 24/7, with food and accommodation provided throughout the four years.

ROAR Education Development Programme is a unique programme catered for students with an SPM score of 3As and higher who have the passion and will to succeed, but due to extraordinarily turbulent circumstances, are unable to achieve stronger grades. The students are comprised of academically-inclined individuals mainly from at-risk and highly impoverished backgrounds, who have the interest and desire to succeed academically through a structured support programme.

“The selection of our Foundation scholars involves a rigorous process in which candidates are chosen based on wide range of criteria. Having a string of A’s is only one of the pre-requisite criteria for the selection,” said Sue Yian, who prefers students who are creative and able to demonstrate the ability to think independently.

One of the scholarship recipients, Ng Choon Jin, 20, said; he applied for the scholarship to further his Medical studies at SEGI Institution. He aims to be a general practitioner with the desire to help people and the community.

“I can’t describe my happiness when I was told that I’m one of the recipients of the scholarship, simply because I’m able to support myself without relying on my family,” said Choon Jin, whose parents are both visually-disabled due to Glaucoma and Congenital Cataract.

Another scholarship recipient, Choo Pui Pui, 21, thanked the Foundation for selecting her as one of the Undergraduate Scholarship award recipient and dedicates the award to her mother, who passed away last year.

“My mom would have been really happy to see me accepting this scholarship award. Though she is no longer with us, I’m sure her blessings are with me all the time,” said Pui Pui, who is currently pursuing her Dentistry course at AIMST University.

In addition, the Foundation also awarded scholarships for three postgraduate students. The Masters scholarship aims to provide opportunities for students who have demonstrated both excellent academic results and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and entrepreneurs, to further their postgraduate studies at World Top 200 universities based on Times Higher Education Ranking.

The Hong Leong Group Scholarship Program is available to children of employees of the Hong Leong Group, and this year, close to RM610K in scholarships was awarded to 29 children of employees of the Group for pre-university, diploma and undergraduate studies. Since 1983, a total of 546 scholarships worth RM6.8 million have been disbursed to employees of the Group.

“This Group Scholarship Award will definitely encourage me to work harder and excel in my studies. I would like to thank Hong Leong Group for your recognition of my dedication and commitment to learning and education,” said Dharshinishree Subramaniam, who was in high spirits with the presence of her mother, who has been working as a receptionist with CARSEM (member of the Hong Leong Group) for more than 35 years.

Speaking after the Scholarship Awards, Sue Yian further added, “We welcome any corporate foundations to come and view our ROAR students and be a part of this programme. As the saying goes, ‘two hands make lighter work than one’, we can only reach out to so many young people with turbulent backgrounds to help them ROAR. By working together, it would provide a bigger avenue to transform many young people’s lives”.

“We see potential in all our scholars and believe that they will go on to achieve successful academic and professional careers, forming a new generation of Malaysian thinkers who will contribute to the betterment of communities and society. We are delighted to be able to offer them opportunities for them to fulfill their dreams and aspirations,” concluded Sue Yian.