Sudirman scholar selected

BEING able to sing in seven different languages is a gift and no easy feat, but Yayasan Sime Darby’s (YSD) first Sudirman Scholar can do just that – and more.

Wong Kie Ming ( pic), 23, who is from Sarawak, is passionate about music. He can sing in English, Malay, Chinese, Italian, German, French and Latin. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Universiti Malaya. His major is in opera singing. He hopes to pursue a master’s degree in the same field.

YSD in collaboration with The Actors Studio, offered this scholarship to commemorate 25 years since the passing of the Malaysian music legend, the late Datuk Sudirman Arshad.

YSD chairman Tun Musa Hitam said he hopes the Sudirman Scholarship will not only keep the legend’s name and legacy alive, but also inspire a new generation of artistes such as Wong.

He said the scholarship has been awarded to Wong.

The youngest of four siblings, Wong works part time to support himself and his mother, who is a homemaker.

“Receiving financial aid from YSD will lift the weight off my family members, who have supported my singing journey so far,” he said.

The Sudirman Scholarship Fund 2017 is worth RM25,000 a year, awarded to one recip- ient to pursue a three-year undergraduate programme in vocal studies at a selected public university in Malaysia.

YSD has been offering scholarships to underprivileged students since 1982, with a total of RM248.4mil worth of scholarships and bursaries awarded to 3,208 deserving Malaysians and students from countries in which Sime Darby operates, to pursue higher education at selected local and international universities.