MARA to double Turkiye scholars next year, says Zahid

ISTANBUL, Nov 8 — The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) plans to double the number of sponsored students sent to Turkiye for their higher education next year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The target follows the successful placement of the pioneer batch of 17 students in September. MARA's aim is to expand international education opportunities for top-performing students while strengthening academic ties between Malaysia and Turkiye.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the students' academic performance would be crucial in demonstrating MARA's right choices in selecting them, paving the way for more Malaysian students to receive similar opportunities in the future. MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki highlighted that the first batch of students was placed successfully in September, just four months after discussions began, following the Deputy Prime Minister's directive to expedite the initiative.

These students are among the best, selected from two MARA preparatory colleges after demonstrating outstanding academic performance since their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations. Intan Alysha Safiya Hairil Alfian, a first-year Computer Science student at Sabanci University, expressed gratitude for MARA's sponsorship, stating that the adequate living allowance disbursed on time greatly helped meet her study expenses in Turkiye.

Haziq Firdaus Ramzizan, a first-year Mechatronics Engineering student at the same university, noted that the MARA sponsorship allowed him to focus fully on his studies without being burdened by financial constraints. MARA also strengthened academic cooperation with Sabanci University and Yildiz Technical University through Letters of Collaboration, covering joint undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, curriculum alignment, and pathways to doctoral studies.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, and Malaysia's Honorary Consul in Bursa, Datuk Cevdet Sefer, were present at the event.