RM56m for education through Jeffrey Cheah Foundation

The largest sum to date by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation  to change lives of students and contribute to national education growth.

Some 4000 young Malaysians will reap the benefits of the largest contribution to date to ever come from Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) in the form of scholarships and awards for students with exceptional performance in areas like academics, sports, music and extra-curricular activities. Among the scholarship awarded to students were need-based scholarships, merit-based scholarships, and scholarships awarded to talented individuals in the fields of art and sports. Additionally, study grant to pursue Southeast Asian Studies at Harvard University were awarded to students at the event.

Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Chief Secretary of the Malaysian government, said in his speech that sponsorships by the private sector compliment the effort of the Malaysian government ensure that Malaysian talents are given the best opportunities to excel further in their studies and become a valuable addition to the national talent pool.

Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, Founding Trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation , said “the pursuit of excellence brings in its wake its own rewards. The scholarships you have earned are the keys that open the doors to this world of exciting possibilities.” He also encourages other leaders to take part in such benefits and/or create their own models to help deserving students ,  maximise their potentials and inspire them to impact and give back to their communities.

He also added that, education is dear to his heart and that he would like to dedicate more time in the areas of philanthropy, education and sustainability, in which he is increasingly passionate. In affirmation of his commitment, he reiterated his pledge to disburse RM1 billion in scholarships in his lifetime.

Scholarships that were awarded included the Jeffrey Cheah Entrance Scholarship, The Chancellors Scholarship of Sunway University and Lancaster University, Sunway Excellence Scholarship, Sunway University Postgraduate by Research Scholarship, The Jeffrey Cheah Travel Grants for Southeast Asia Studies at Harvard University, Sunway Sports Scholarship, Sunway Music Talent Scholarship, Jeffrey Cheah Scholastic Award, Sunway ECA Achievers & Sports Award and Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera.

Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, witnessed the ceremony alongside Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, AO, Founding Trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation; Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Trustees, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman M. Hashim, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr R.V. Navaratnam, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Lin See-Yan, Tan Sri Rainer Althoff, YAM Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz; Dr Lee Weng Keng, Chief Executive Officer, Education and Healthcare Division, Sunway Group and Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and Sunway University.

Guests at the ceremony include Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal, Director General, Public Services Department Malaysia; Dato’ P. Kamalanathan, Deputy Minister of Education I, Malaysia; Datin Paduka Ir. Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir, Deputy Director General (IPTA), Ministry of Higher Education; Dato' Sri Alias Haji Ahmad, Secretary General, Ministry of Education and Professor Dr Hj. Hazman Shah Vijayan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Quality Assurance), Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).