RM72 mil to develop 5,000 Bumiputera human capital next year - Najib

He said 500 of them would receive scholarships through the 'Peneraju Tunas' scheme; 3,500 through the 'Peneraju Skil' scheme and between 800 and 1,000 through the 'Peneraju Profesional' scheme that would include 500 pursuing accounting programmes.

The accounting programmes would encompass basic certification programmes such as CAT, CFAB, CAB-CIMA and professional certification programmes such as ACCA, CIMA, CPA Australia, ICAEW and MICPA-ICAA, he told a news conference after chairing a meeting of the Yayasan Peneraju board of trustees here.

Najib also said that the foundation would look into the second wave of scholarships to be given out between 2015 and 2017.

"Applications have been made for allocations. We will announce the subsequent programmes," he said.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah also attended the meeting as members of the board. Also present was foundation chief executive Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin.

Yayasan Peneraju began operations in February 2012 with the objective of fulfilling the government aspiration to ensure that Bumiputeras can be competitive and contribute to national economic growth to enable Malaysia achieve developed nation status by 2020.

It is a trust fund established to ensure that the capability and expertise of Bumiputeras continue to be developed to enable them to be competitive on a global scale.

Yayasan Peneraju is a component of the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Roadmap under the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department.

Najib, who is the finance minister, said more than 4,000 people had received the first wave of scholarships, up to this year, under the Peneraju Tunas, Peneraju Skil and Peneraju Profesional schemes since the foundation started operations.

Najib said the foundation focused on students who came from households in the bottom 40 per cent income group.

"We understand that many students of moderate achievement have high potential but poverty seems to prevent them from realising their true potential.

"Here then lies the role of the Yayasan Peneraju in enhancing their achievement at the school, skills and higher education levels," he said.

Meanwhile, Raja Azura said Yayasan Peneraju had set the target of providing scholarships to 17,000 students under the second wave.