PIDM scholarship a stepping stone to greatness for 21 undergrads

Kuala Lumpur, 19 August 2019: Twenty one undergraduates were awarded scholarships this year for various disciplines, bringing the total to 144 since Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) established the programme a decade ago.
 
While academic merit was a discerning criteria for applicants, recipients of the PIDM Undergraduate Scholarship Programme were selected based on their financial background, personal strengths and drive to succeed.
 
Beneficiaries of the scholarship programme are from the B40 income group. In addition, PIDM also awarded a scholarship to a recipient under its scholarship programme for employees’ children.
 
“The programme is our commitment towards elevating the lives of young people with the potential to reach greater heights,” said Rafiz Azuan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of PIDM.
 
“Scholarship programmes are highly coveted but can be highly competitive, making it a challenge for those who have less of a competitive edge due to financial impediments. The PIDM scholarship emphasises on the availability of financial access for candidates and provides them with the necessary resources to complete their higher education studies.”
 
Mohamad Ishairullah Bin Ya'acob from Muar, Johor, was this year's oldest candidate at 23 years old. Due to financial issues, he was unable to continue studying after completing his foundation studies, and sought employment, among others, as a security guard at a bank branch for more than two years to support his family.
 
“It was not an easy journey, juggling work with studies. In between I managed to complete my diploma in business administration and now, thanks to PIDM, I can continue with my degree studies,” he said, adding that the scholarship has further fuelled his passion to become an economist.
 
“I consider PIDM’s chairman, Tan Sri Dr. Rahamat Bivi Yusoff, to be one of my role models in this field especially when I discovered that she too, studied economics as a student. I would like to prove to everyone that with determination I can achieve just as much.”
 
Ishairullah is currently pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) Business Economics degree at the University Teknologi Mara campus in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
 
Lokya Ting, 18, from Sarawak, also grew up in challenging circumstances. Her father worked as a construction site manager before he was diagnosed with colon cancer, forcing him into early retirement. As Lokya's mother is also unable to work due to her physical disabilities, the family sold baked goods at her father's previous construction site daily to make ends meet.
 
“I’m grateful for this opportunity from PIDM. I plan to make the best out of the programme, in particular, the internship and mentoring opportunities that are given to scholars,” she said.
 
Lokya is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Law (Honours) degree at Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah.
 
In conjunction with the scholarship programme’s 10^th year, PIDM also organised a formal alumni networking session for past and current scholars to meet at the awards ceremony.
 
The PIDM Undergraduate Scholarship Programme was established in 2010 to provide bond-free scholarships to deserving individuals. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses and study-related materials. The programme also offers mentors, drawn from PIDM’s workforce, to help counsel and advise scholars.
 

 
ABOUT PIDM

PIDM is a statutory body that provides protection against the loss of deposits and insurance or takaful benefits with its member institutions in the event of a failure. PIDM is entirely funded by premiums or levies assessed on its member institutions and does not receive public funds to operate. It has the means under the PIDM Act to borrow or raise such funds as may be needed to fulfil its statutory obligations to protect financial consumers of its member institutions. As an integral part of the national financial safety net, PIDM promotes and contributes to the stability of the financial system.
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