THE ANCOM CROP CARE SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION CEREMONY

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE ANCOM CROP CARE SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION CEREMONY

15 January 2024
St. Giles Wembley Hotel

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr Abd Hapiz Abdullah
Chairman of Ancom Crop Care

Yang Berbahagia Encik Lee Cheun Wei
Managing Director & Group CEO of Ancom Crop Care

Distinguished guests, parents, scholars, members of the media,

Ladies & Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to be here this afternoon to officiate the presentation ceremony of the Ancom Crop Care Penang scholarships to the first cohort of scholars.

I extend my greetings to each and every one of you who are gathered here; distinguished guests, parents and most importantly, our bright and promising young scholars.

Today we come together to recognize and applaud this initiative undertaken by Ancom Crop Care. I commend the company for your commitment towards investing in the future of Penang by providing opportunities for our youth to pursue their tertiary education in local universities.

A total of fourteen (but only nine are present today) students born in Penang, from financially challenged families, are now recipients of scholarships that will pave the way for their academic pursuits.

This commitment by Ancom Crop Care towards the education of the younger generation aligns seamlessly with our vision for Penang as a Talent Hub. These scholarships are investments in the future of Penang, investments in the hearts and minds of these young scholars and, I am confident, they will one day contribute significantly to the state’s progress.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

What we are witnessing today also complements the state’s Penang2030 Vision. As we aim to be “A Family-Focused Green and Smart State That Inspires the Nation”, an important criterion to be met is that we have to be smart.

This means we must have talents or workforce who are attuned to the needs of the future. Our scholars will be joining the workforce after four or five years of study, must have the necessary knowledge or skills to compete as well as to contribute towards our digital or creative economy.

This is exactly what our scholars must be prepared for and you must all have the foresightedness to seize the opportunities in future.

Moreover, in order to pave the way for more opportunities to our future talents through the means of the education path, the Penang state government had pledged a total RM60 million for our aided primary and secondary schools by the year 2030.

We are also providing free tuition classes to 1,500 students annually with a focus on those who are from the B40 group and also free laptops for those from the same group once they receive offers to study at any of our IPTA.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

I had the privilege of officiating the launch of this scholarship program in April last year. As we gather for the presentation ceremony today, I am filled with pride and hope for the future. The journey of education is a transformative one and our scholars embody the resilience and determination that define the Penang spirit.

To the parents who have supported and nurtured these bright minds, I extend my sincere congratulations. Your sacrifices and encouragement have played a major role in shaping these young individuals. Today’s celebration is as much about your dedication as it is about their achievements.

As we move forward on our mission to turn Penang into a Talent Hub, let us remember that education is the cornerstone of progress. By investing in the education of our youth, we invest in the prosperity and sustainability of our state.

To the scholars, the journey may be challenging, but remember that with every challenge comes the opportunity to learn and grow. Penang looks to you as the torchbearers of its future and I am hopeful that you will carry the responsibility with determination.

Once again, my heartfelt gratitude to Ancom Crop Care for their scholarship program and my deepest appreciation to the parents who have nurtured these bright minds.

Last but not least, I offer my heartiest congratulations to the 14 scholars. I trust you will continue to excel and perform your role in making Penang a beacon of progress and prosperity. Thank you.