Cheah commits RM500mil to establish one of Malaysia’s largest education endowments

The Star

Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah has committed RM100 million annually over the next five years to create what is set to become one of Malaysia’s largest education endowments.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

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.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended