KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) is celebrating six decades of empowering young Malaysian talent, having channelled RM96.6 million in scholarships, financial aid, and leadership development to more than 12,000 youths since its inception in 1966.
The foundation marked its diamond jubilee at a commemorative event in Kuala Lumpur on August 13, where National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang highlighted the foundation’s enduring contribution to national development.
Since its founding, YTAR has focused on equipping high-potential, underserved youths with the resources, leadership skills, and ethical grounding required to shape Malaysia’s future.
“While a memorial asks us to look back and remember, a living institution, such as YTAR, asks us to step forward and carry those ideals into the future,” YTAR chairperson Datin Seri Sharifah Menyalara Syed Hussein said.
She cited the foundation’s vibrant alumni network as its crowning achievement, with Tunku Scholars currently serving across the public and private sectors as educators, civil servants, lawyers, doctors, and civic leaders.
During the anniversary event, YTAR honoured two of its earliest scholarship alumni: Ch’ng Kim See, a 1967 recipient who became a prominent historian, author, and regional pioneer in Library and Information Sciences, and Dr Zakaria Ali, a 1968 recipient who built an illustrious career as an artist, author, educator, and art historian.
At the event, the foundation also announced that nominations for the prestigious Pingat Tunku Award will run from August 31 to September 30, 2026.
In a landmark shift designed to widen access, this year’s edition will allow self-nominations from graduates of both public and private universities nationwide, removing the traditional restriction to institutional submissions.
Selected recipients can receive up to RM44,000 in cash prizes and community project grants to help them initiate or expand social impact ventures that benefit the wider public.
Date: 25 August, 2026 5:27 pm
Source: Malay Mail
💬 Join the Conversation! 💬
We’ve disabled comments on our posts and pages to keep the discussions organized and lively! But don’t worry – the conversation isn’t over. Head over to our forum and share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback with the community! It’s the perfect place to connect, learn, and engage with others who care about the same things. We can’t wait to hear from you!