RM56 million boost from Jeffrey Cheah Foundation to impact lives

Bandar Sunway, 06 October 2016 – Around 4,000 deserving youths benefitted from a total of RM56 million worth of scholarships, the highest annual disbursement in the history of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) to date, at the recent JCF Scholarship and Awards ceremony held at Jeffrey Cheah Hall, Sunway University.

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.

The JCF Scholarships and Awards Ceremony is a platform to recognise the accomplishment of those who excel in academics, sports, music and extra-curricular activities. Among the awards and scholarships given by the JCF were need-based scholarships, merit-based scholarships, and scholarships awarded for talents in the arts and sports. The Jeffrey Cheah Travel Grants for Southeast Asia Studies at Harvard University were also awarded at this ceremony.

In his speech, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa shared that scholarships and bursaries offered by private sectors such as the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation complement initiatives by the Government to ensure talented students who excel in their studies have the best opportunities to further their education and contribute to future talent pool.

In addressing the scholars present at the ceremony, Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah shared that, “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 encouraged other leaders to take the opportunity to create similar models to benefit deserving and bright students, while imploring the recipients to maximise this opportunity given to them to impact society for the better.

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. 

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). 

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. 

Other need-based scholarships included the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Community Scholarship, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Scholarship, Nanyang Tertiary Education Fund, Sin Chew Daily Education Fund, SUN-MAPCU Scholarship Scheme, Sunway-Berita Harian Scholarship and The Star Education Fund.

To date, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has awarded approximately RM270 million worth of scholarships to 28,000 deserving young Malaysians. For more information about the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and learn about its work for quality education, please log on to http://jeffreycheah.foundation.