100 Malaysian students overseas receive aid from Johor Sultanah's fund

Some 100 Malaysian students overseas have been named as recipients of the Zarith Sofiah’s Initiative for Educational Financial Assistance (ZSIEFA) through the Zarith Sofiah Foundation.

The list of students involving various universities in the United Kingdom and the United States was posted on the foundation’s official Facebook page on Monday.

It was the foundation’s first disbursement of aid since the initiative was announced on August 20.

“Congratulations to all recipients, we would be in touch the soonest via email for the disbursement.

“To the other unlucky applicants, we thank you for your submission and support,” ZSIEFA said on its Facebook page.

The funds would be distributed in four phases beginning Sept 23 to Dec 31.

The first phase would involve 10 students, the second on Oct 31 would involve 20 students, while on Nov 31 some 30 students would receive the funds while the last batch, as much as 40 students, on Dec 31.

All applicants are required to fill in a form and send in a video on why they should be named as a recipient.

The ZSIEFA fund, the pilot project under the Zarith Sofiah Foundation, is open to all Malaysians studying in the UK and US regardless of race, religion and background.

In August, the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah had expressed her concerns for Malaysian students in both the countries, who could be facing financial difficulties following the depreciation of the ringgit.

Raja Zarith was on vacation in the UK at the time.