PNB scholarship programme marks 30 years of building talent

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Permodalan Nasional Bhd's (PNB) scholarship programme has supported thousands of Malaysians over three decades, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said.

He said the programme had gone beyond financial assistance by helping drive social mobility and develop national leadership talent.

He was speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of the PNB Scholarship Programme at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.

In conjunction with the anniversary, PNB also launched PNB Lumina, a platform for scholarship alumni to connect, mentor and give back to society.

Amir called on PNB scholarship alumni to give back to the next generation, particularly those from rural areas and low-income households.

"Do not let your success and privilege stop with yourselves.

"Contribute your service and dedication to society and the nation. Devote time and energy to mentoring, creating opportunities and nurturing new talent," he said.

He said the achievements of PNB's alumni were the best proof that the Bakat Madani initiative, recently launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was on the right track.

The initiative targets the placement of 25,000 young Malaysians from low-income households into the country's strategic sectors, including government-linked investment companies, government-linked companies, semiconductors, green energy and artificial intelligence, by mid-2027.

"When human capital developed by an institution like PNB grows and strengthens other institutions across the country, it has a tangible impact on the nation's competitiveness and economic resilience," he said.

PNB group chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Uda said the anniversary was a testament to PNB's decision three decades ago to invest in human capital alongside financial assets.

"Our vision was clear — to open opportunities, nurture the potential of Malaysia's children and help them build a better future," he said.

Raja Arshad said many alumni present at the event now held senior positions in leading organisations across various sectors at home and abroad.

The PNB Scholarship Programme was established in 1996 with a pioneer cohort of just 10 students sent to the United Kingdom.

Over the past 30 years, it has supported 6,547 scholarship recipients across secondary and tertiary education and professional development programmes, with a cumulative investment of nearly RM570 million.

Within PNB, 333 alumni currently serve the organisation, with scholar alumni making up 30 per cent of PNB's Management Executive Committee. - NST