TANJUNG MALIM: Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) is offering variable education financing to students at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) who are pursuing studies in ethnic languages at the university.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between YBR and UPSI, a total of RM7.5 million will be provided over a period of five years.
The aim is to support 30 students each year who will benefit from this funding.
The MoU was signed by UPSI Vice Chancellor Dato’ Dr. Md Amin Md. Taff, representing UPSI, and Datuk Philip Lasimbang, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, representing YBR.
UPSI offers major studies in Kadazandusun, Iban, and Semai languages, which are ethnic languages included in the national education curriculum.
During the MoU signing ceremony, witnessed by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, he described this initiative as a significant step towards recognizing and empowering the role of mother tongues in our country.
“I am proud that the Kadazandusun language minor study, which was introduced at UPSI in 2010, is now being supported through this funding offer. To me, this demonstrates respect and recognition for the mother tongues in our country.
“Ethnic languages have an impact on entrepreneurship. For instance, marketing and promoting a product or service in an ethnic language, alongside the national language and a major international language, can attract the interest of the ethnic group.
“At the same time, we should encourage Malaysians to master at least three languages: the national language, their mother tongue, and at least one major international language,” he said.
Ewon made these remarks during the MoU signing ceremony at UPSI today.
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, the former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who launched the Kadazandusun minor studies at UPSI in 2010, was also present.
Furthermore, Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) distributed RM40,600 in schooling aid to a total of 812 indigenous school students in this area.
