Mara to award overseas scholarships to top Hafiz, Hafizah
KUALA LUMPUR: Outstanding Al-Quran Hafiz and Hafizah (men and women who have memorised the Quran) will be prioritised for Mara scholarships to foreign universities under a new initiative starting this year.
Mara chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the programme would support high-achieving Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students pursuing professional fields such as medicine, engineering, and accounting.
The initiative falls under the Mara Young Talent Development Programme and is open not only to students from MRSM Ulul Albab but also those from boarding schools (SBP), religious schools (SMKA, SABK), and both state and private Maahad Tahfiz.
"The goal is to produce more professional Huffaz who are grounded in al-Quran values and capable of leading in strategic sectors," Asyraf said in a Facebook post.
He added that the initiative aligns with the National Tahfiz Education Policy proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last year.
Following discussions with Mara director-general Datuk Zulfikri Osman and Education deputy director-general Dr Mahzan Teh, the programme will be formally included in Mara's policy.
"InshaAllah, we aim to nurture future leaders and a Khaira Ummah that is outstanding, distinguished, and grounded in Islamic values," he said.
Separately, Asyraf also announced that Mara will sponsor 87 Orang Asli students who excelled in the SPM at its institutions.
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