Terminating sponsorships: Mara does not need to inform Higher Education Ministry

The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) does not need to inform the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) its decision to stop sponsoring students wanting to pursue their studies at the Taylor's University.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said this was because Mara had the rights to make any decision without consulting the ministry.

"It (Mara) does not need to give me any reason. I wouldn't know. I wouldn't know. As it has been announced, I wouldn't know," he told reporters today.

Idris had earlier presented awards and scholarships from the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation in Sunway University in a ceremony which was also attended by its founder, Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah who is also the Chancellor of Sunway University.

Yesterday, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced Mara's decision to stop sponsorships for new students pursuing their studies at Taylor's University due to several reasons.

However, Mara-sponsored students who were still studying there could finish their studies at the university.

Asked if there was a possibility that Mara would stop sponsoring students in other government or private institutions of higher learning, Idris said he did not have any information on the matter.

Earlier in his speech, Idris said he hoped that more corporations would sponsor outstanding students to study in local and foreign universities.

He added that this commitment by the corporations would not only help the government attain its objective of making the nation an hub for tertiary education, it could also elevate the quality of education here.

Meanwhile, Cheah in his speech said today was historic for the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation as it gave out RM45 million in scholarships to more than 3,000 recipients, compared to the RM33 million last year.