KUALA LUMPUR: Recognising the devastating financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the students, the Carlsberg Huazong Education Fund (CEF) has announced that it will be allocating a sum of RM1 million to assist needy Chinese students in the country to pursue their college education, in the form of free bursary.
This special bursary with a quota for 333 students is open for application starting 1 February, 2021. Successful applicants will receive an one-off bursary of RM3,000 each.
Announcing this was Huazong President, Tan Sri T.C Goh, after presiding over the online video conference cum meeting with committee members of CEF today. The meeting was held chiefly to finalise the details for the application of the free bursary, which was approved by Huazong AGM on 27th Dec 2020.
He also announced that CEF’s existing interest-free study loan program will proceed as planned, and qualified and deserving students can also apply for this bursary at the same time.
“As for the recipients of the interest-free study loan, if they are badly hit by the pandemic and are unable to make repayment, they can appeal to have their loan waived, subject to the discretion of the Committee,” he said.
The CEF was established in 1998 with a revolving fund of RM5 million to provide interest-free study loans to assist children of Chinese community to pursue higher education to realise their dreams. It has since benefitted thousands of needy students.
Goh added that the application for the one-off free bursary of RM3,000 is valid for the period of one year, effective from 1 February, 2021.
The following is the detailed requirement for the free bursary application:
· Applicant qualifications:
Must be a Malaysian citizen currently studying in a local college or university.
· Application Conditions:
Single-parent family; both parents are currently jobless due to the pandemic; an orphan; gross domestic monthly income of less than RM4,849 or, a family with disability.
· Application documents:
Fill in the application forms issued by CEF (can be downloaded from Huazong’s official website); photocopy of applicant’s identity card; photocopy of parent’s or guardian’s identity card; applicant’s student card, latest report card, or photocopy of admission letter issued by the college/university (or any other relevant documents which could prove the applicant’s identity); applicant who is an orphan or from single parent family shall submit photocopies of parents’ death certificate or divorce certificate, or other relevant credentials; applicant whose both parents have lost their jobs or in destitute condition shall provide relevant credentials, such as receipt for B40 aid, monthly pay slip, EA form, EPF savings or other relevant documental proofs; applicant whose parents are hawkers or self-employed and is unable to provide relevant documents could back up their application with supporting letter from college authority or the President of Chinese Assembly Hall of respective state.
· Verification
Verification and selection of recipients will be conducted by the Chinese Assembly Hall of each state, and final approval will be made by the CEF Committee. Successful applicants will either be notified by the Chinese Assembly Hall of respective state, or Huazong. Any inquiries from the applicant after that will not be entertained.
· Procedures:
Applicants are required to carefully study the requirement of application, fill in the form, and to submit it together with photocopies of the relevant documents to Huozong, or the Chinese Assembly Hall of the respective state. Huozong secretariat or the respective Chinese Assembly Hall will then acknowledge receipt of the application. CEF Committee will finalise and announce the name list of the successful applicants on 5 March, 2021. It will be announced via the official website and official Facebook of Huazong, as well as to be announced by the Chinese Assembly Hall of every state, throughout the country.
Successful candidates shall abide by the guidelines provided by Huazong or the Chinese Assembly Hall of the respective state when receiving their bursary, depending on the latest situation of the pandemic; the ceremony for disbursement of the bursary shall be conducted either online or offline, or any other methods deemed appropriate.
Application for the one-off free bursary starts on 1 February and the closing date is 12 February (Friday). Submission which is incomplete or exceeds the deadline shall not be entertained. The bursary will be disbursed on 13 March, 2021 (Saturday).-pr/BNN
