Kuching, June 17, 2009
Shell Malaysia will continue to complement the government's efforts to develop and enhance Malaysian human capital through its scholarship programme. Stating this in his speech at the Shell Scholarship & Bursary Awards presentation ceremony held at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak in Kuching, Dato Wee Yiaw Hin, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Exploration and Production companies said that the business community can play an integral role in realising this manpower requirement. "As partner in Malaysia’s progress, Shell is proud to contribute to sustainable development in the country by enhancing our nation's intellectual asset pool through this programme," he added. He urged the students to continue to work hard and be motivated to succeed not only in their studies but in their future careers.
Funding from the Shell Scholarship Fund (SSF) set up by Shell Malaysia provides scholarships and incentive awards to deserving Malaysians to pursue studies in approved institutions either locally or abroad. Shell Malaysia invests RM11 million country-wide in various educational assistance or capacity building programme annually. Out of the amount, RM3.4 million is allocated for Sarawak. Some 235 students from Sarawak were selected to receive scholarships and bursaries from Shell this year. YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Deputy Chief Minister (1) and Minister for Agriculture Modernisation and Industrial Development, representing the Chief Minister presented the awards to the recipients who excelled academically and shone at extra-curricular activities. Sixty students from Sarawak and Sabah will receive Shell scholarships to further their studies at universities throughout Malaysia with two at Curtin University, Miri. A further 10 students will study overseas under Shell funding. Students were selected on the basis of their outstanding academic performance in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), matriculation year or Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) as well as other considerations. Shell also reinstated pre-university level scholarships last year. Currently SSF supports 208 scholars at various universities locally and 25 scholars overseas. Annually, 400 students from the two states receive bursaries for excellence in their Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and SPM examinations. Dato Wee further disclosed that Shell would continue to partner the state government as well as other stakeholders in their long-standing educational, youth development and other community-oriented programmes which are designed with the underlying objective of progressing capacity building, knowledge enhancement, skill development and promoting health and safety and environmental concern. These included Projek LINK, a training programme at SM Teknik Miri to equip youth with the necessary skills to become qualified coded welders to international standard making them marketable in big industries, Shell Traffic Games, Nature Education Camps, health related programmes as well as the Press Excellence Awards for Sarawak and Sabah. Shell also works closely with universities in Malaysia to regularly share information on the oil and gas industry and employment opportunities within Shell Malaysia as well as collaborate on research programmes. These include a study on dolphins conducted with UNIMAS and Sarawak Forestry Corporation as well as the Campus Ambassador programme with Curtin University, Miri. The long running Shell Scholarship programme has benefited many bright young boys and girls from Sarawak and Sabah and a number of them have become leaders in their chosen fields within and outside Shell. Ends. Issued by Corporate Affairs, Sarawak Shell Berhad/Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd., Locked Bag No. 1, 98009 Miri, Sarawak. Any query should be referred to Victor Klanang (tel. 085-453103). |