00:00Tanshree Sir Dr. Jeffrey Chia has committed 100 million ringgit annually over the next five years
00:07to create what is set to become one of Malaysia's largest education endowments.
00:12The endowment is modeled on legacy institutions such as Harvard University
00:16and is intended to provide support for academic excellence, research and innovation at Sunway University in perpetuity.
00:24Jeffrey Chia Foundation trustee Tanshree Razman Hashim, who is also Sunway University's pro-chancellor,
00:30made the announcement at the JCF 2025 Scholarships and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.
00:36He highlighted Chia's belief that making quality education affordable and accessible
00:40is crucial in creating a more equitable, sustainable and inclusive future for all Malaysians.
00:45In 2010, Tanshree gifted his entire equity stake in the Sunway Education Group,
00:52comprising Sunway International Schools, Sunway Colleges and Sunway University
00:58to the Jeffrey Chia Foundation in perpetuity.
01:03At that time, I remember that several investment bankers came and told him
01:07that he should list the Sunway Education Group on Bursa Malaysia
01:11and they said the market capitalization would be worth several billion ringgit.
01:17In line with his conviction that education should be a not-for-profit venture,
01:23he politely turned them down.
01:26Guest of Honour Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin of Selangor
01:30graced the event by presenting the Scholarship Awards to the students.
01:34Speaking to reporters after the ceremony,
01:37Tanshree Sir Dr. Jeffrey Chia reiterated his commitment
01:40that he will surpass his previous goalpost of dispersing one billion ringgit in scholarships by next year.
01:45From next year onward, I will give 100 million a year for five years.
01:50For 500 million.
01:52So the longer I live, the more I will give.
01:54So maybe after the five years, I will give, I will think of more.
01:58So I want this institution to be like Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford or MIT for instance.
02:05Our Raja Pramaisuri Selangor is very pleased with what we are doing
02:11and hopefully what we are doing will inspire more people,
02:16more rich people in Malaysia to give more to the underprivileged,
02:20especially helping them through their study with scholarship.
02:25This year's ceremony saw more than 6,700 students receiving scholarships to pursue higher education.
02:32To date, the JCF has dispersed more than 967 million ringgit in scholarships and grants,
02:38underscoring its position as one of the country's most significant private philanthropic vehicles in education.
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