NEWS & UPDATES

KUCHING

12 SEPTEMBER 2024

Sarawak Energy celebrates the 10^th anniversary of its Scholarship Award programme this year, marking a decade of powering Sarawak’s future through inclusive social investment and sustainable development. The Group has invested over RM85 million over the last decades through its scholarship programme and bursaries, with more than 1,000 scholars whose tertiary education have been funded by Sarawak Energy.

The 2024 Scholarship Award Ceremony was held in Kuching today with 127 scholars selected from a total of 1,864 applicants for pre-university, undergraduate, and postgraduate studies. The ceremony was attended by scholars, parents, educators, university representatives, and Sarawak Energy’s senior management team.

Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, officiated the event and congratulated the scholarship recipients, their families, and teachers.

“Today, we celebrate an important milestone – the 10th anniversary of the Sarawak Energy Scholarship Programme. Launched in 2014, the scholarship is a key component of our corporate social responsibility efforts to power young minds and unlock the potential of our talented Sarawakian students,” he said.

Datuk Haji Sharbini highlighted that Sarawak Energy’s commitment to empowering communities through education remained a priority even during Covid-19, with scholarship investment doubling from RM8 million to RM 16 million per year since 2022, alongside increased monthly and digital allowances to support the learning needs of the scholars.

“Our scholarship initiative has enabled many bright young people from Sarawak to pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at various local and international universities, putting them on a path to realise their potential and achieve their ambitions,” he added.

He also emphasised Sarawak Energy’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, noting the increased focus on supporting female scholars, particularly in technical fields traditionally dominated by men.

“This year, approximately 30% of our scholars are from communities near Sarawak Energy’s projects and operations, including 32 students from Belaga, Bintulu, Dalat, Daro, and Kapit receiving scholarships, reinforcing our commitment to creating equitable opportunities for all,” he said.

In addition to the scholarship programme, Sarawak Energy introduced its Bursary Programme in 2019 under the Early Bird Talent Scheme to identify and support secondary level students.

To date, the bursary programme has benefitted 700 students, with 124 new bursaries awarded this year across 14 schools closely connected to the company’s projects. Each year, Sarawak Energy allocates RM300,000 to provide financial aid for students who excel academically and in extra-curricular activities, further demonstrating its commitment to education.