Shell Malaysia Announces Scholarships to Benefit Disabled Students

Leslie Hayward, Shell Malaysia's Director of Human Resources made the announcement in his speech at the Shell Educational Excellence Awards presentation ceremony held in Kuching. He was representing Shell Malaysia Chairman Mohd Anuar Taib. Deputy Chief Minister, Yang Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam officiated at the event and presented scholarships to university students and bursaries to secondary students.

"We hope to be able to make a significant and very positive difference to the lives of young and disabled people in the country," Leslie said. He disclosed that details on the scholarship will be published on 10 August, a date which coincides with the drilling of the first oil well in Sarawak in 1910.

For 2010, 19 students from Sarawak received Shell scholarships to further their studies at universities throughout Malaysia for 2010. A further 8 students will pursue their studies overseas. Students were initially identified on the basis of outstanding results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), matriculation year or Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM). Almost 200 students received bursaries for excellent results in their Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and SPM examinations.

Shell Malaysia has been awarding scholarships and bursaries for over 40 years as part of a long-standing commitment in support of the government’s effort to develop human capital.  Leslie added that for Malaysia to reach the ranks of a high-income nation, it first needed a highly skilled labour force derived from well educated citizens.

The Shell Scholarship Fund (SSF) provides scholarships and incentives for deserving Malaysians to pursue studies in approved institutions either locally or abroad. Shell Malaysia invests RM14.5 million countrywide in various educational assistance or capacity building programmes annually. This is an increase of RM2 million for 2010 over the previous year. Out of the amount, RM 5.4 million is allocated for Sarawak.

Currently, the company funds 266 scholars at various local universities and a further 68 scholars in universities overseas. In addition, every year some 400 students from Sarawak and Sabah receive bursaries which are incentives for performance in public examinations.
  
Students are chosen on the basis of excellence in academic performance and extra-curricular activities. In addition, potential scholarship students have to pass a rigorous interview process making communication skills a key factor in selection.

In addition to supporting excellence in education and capacity building programmes, Shell Malaysia also focuses its CSR efforts on public safety awareness, sustainable development and the environment. This year will see Shell Malaysia host the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia event in Sepang, Kuala Lumpur. The Eco-marathon challenges university students from the region including Malaysia to design, build, and test vehicles that travel the furthest using the least amount of energy.

Issued by: Corporate Affairs, Sarawak Shell Berhad/Sarawak Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd, Locked Bag No. 1, 98009 Miri, Sarawak.

Contact:

Peing Tajang (Manager, Corporate Affairs), Sarawak Shell Berhad at Mobile: +6012 8043199