ABM 50th MERDEKA SCHOLARSHIP
- More than RM Half a Million to deserving students

October 25, 2007

This year, Malaysia celebrates 50 years of nationhood. Since we declared our independence in 1957, Malaysia has indeed achieved milestones after milestones. Who would have known back then that 50 years on, we would be able to build the beautiful Twin Towers of KLCC and even send a Malaysian astronaut to space?

Similarly, the banking industry has progressed significantly alongside the growth of the country. To commemorate Malaysia's 50th anniversary, ABM and its member institutions decided to give back to the nation by pledging 50 scholarships worth RM10,000 each to Malaysian students in their final year of study. However, due to the overwhelming number of applications received, the Association increased the number of scholarships to 57.

The ABM 50th Merdeka Scholarship aims to nurture young talents so that they may
reach their full potential. Selection of the scholarship recipients was conducted by the
respective banks based on the following criteria that candidates:

• Are full-time Malaysian students in their final year of study at a local public or private university or university college;
• Have attained a CGPA of 3.5 or higher;
• Are currently not a recipient of any financial aid or rewards from any
  organization;
• Agree to serve the sponsoring institution for one year, if required.
  Scholarships were offered to students specialising in various areas of study, in particular, Business Administration, Banking, Finance, Accountancy, Law, Engineering and Economics. Preference was also given to deserving students from the lower income families.

The presentation ceremony for the scholarship recipients was held on October 25, 2007 at a five-star hotel in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony was attended by more than 120 participants comprising representatives from the banks, the recipients and their families.

In his opening address, YBhg Dato' Sri Abdul Hamidy Hafiz, Chairman of ABM congratulated the recipients and thanked the banks for their generous contributions. He further added that “the development of quality human resources has been recognised by the Government and there is a role for the private sector in the provision and financing of tertiary education.”

ABM has always taken an interest in grooming young talents to assist them in reaching their full potential. Apart from the ABM 50th Merdeka Scholarship, the Association and its members are also involved in various programmes to develop human capital in Malaysia. In recent years, ABM made a commitment to train 750
young graduates and enhance their employment marketability. To this end, the Association had set up the Banking Industry Training Scheme (BITS) to equip young graduates with the skills required by employers, in particular, to improve their proficiency in the English Language and in communication skills. The programme has run for four consecutive years since 2004 and the industry has since fulfilled its commitment to the nation to develop and assist 750 graduates to become more employable.

More recently, ABM members together with other financial institutions, have embarked on a Financial Sector Talent Enrichment Programme (FSTEP). The one-year programme is an excellent platform for high-calibre students who wish to pursue a career in banking. Participants are given intensive classroom training and on-the-job exposure whilst receiving a scholarship of RM2,200 per month as well as basic medical and insurance coverage. The first batch of participants is scheduled to begin their training in November this year.

The ABM 50th Merdeka Scholarship is another feather in the cap for ABM and its member institutions. The Association would like to record its heartfelt thanks to its members for their support and generosity in making this initiative a success. We would also like to congratulate all the recipients and hope that they will benefit from the Scholarship and continue to excel in their studies.