Nine from Curtin Malaysia receive Tun Taib scholarship

MIRI: Nine students of Curtin University, Malaysia ( Curtin Malaysia) were among the first batch of 36 students from five tertiary institutions in the state to be awarded the Tun Taib Yayasan Sarawak Scholarship this year.

The nine, namely Chai Choi Yan, Davelyonna Dott Dave, Humaira Natasha Jeffrey, Kee Kia Wei, Mohamad Shafiq Mohamad Adnan, Sharon Hii Yiik Wei, Sia Chee Bing, Siti Nur Ashiqin Mohamad Sofian and Yasmin Suraya Mohamad Roslan, received their scholarships from Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud during a ceremony held recently at the Astana in Kuching.

Chai and Hii are pursuing degrees in civil and construction engineering respectively, while Kee, Mohamad Shafiq, Sia, Siti Nur Ashiqin and Yasmin Suraya are studying chemical engineering.

Davelyonna and Humaira are pursuing Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and entrepreneurship, respectively.

Present to congratulate the Curtin Malaysia recipients at the function last Wednesday were Curtin Malaysia pro- chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam and wife Datin Patinggi Puan Sri Datuk Lorna Enan Muloon; Curtin Malaysia board chairman Dato Ose Murang; and Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is Curtin Malaysia management board chairman.

Also present were Curtin Malaysia president and chief executive Prof Jim Mienczakowski and deputy pro vice- chancellor Prof Beena Giridharan.

Mienczakowski said he is immensely proud of the students’ achievement and looks forward to them graduating with distinction and contributing to Sarawak’s future growth and development, while also expressing his hope that more Curtin Malaysia students will be awarded the scholarship in the coming years.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in his speech at the function, said in the pursuit of a digital economy, Sarawak has to develop its own human capital.

He said Yayasan Sarawak would continue to award scholarships to eligible students, irrespective of race and religious background, to pursue higher education in the country and overseas.

He also hoped the students would continue their studies to post- graduate level, whereby they could undertake research beneficial to Sarawak’s digital economy push.