SINGAPORE- For Singaporean student Raqiip Ali Nur Khan Saleem Khan, the bursary came as a sweet surprise. The Islamic Banking student at Malaysia's Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor spends $3,000 each semester on school fees. On top of that, there is the monthly expenditure on accommodation, transport and food, so the 19-year-old works part time jobs in restaurants to make ends meet.
On Tuesday (Sept 13), Mr Raqiip was one of 17 well-performing but needy students who were presented with bursaries at the Malay Heritage Centre.
The bursaries, from the Lembaga Biasiswa Kenangan Maulud (LBKM), were awarded to Singaporeans studying for diplomas at public and private institutions here and around the world. This year's recipients are pursuing a wide range of courses, at institutions spanning the Qiraat Institute at Egypt's Al-Azhar University to Singapore's ITE College West.
LBKM, a non-profit scholarship fund board, is disbursing 42 diploma level bursaries this year, amounting to a total value of $30,500.
To qualify for the bursary, students have to be Singaporean and pursuing a diploma education. Their household per capital income must also not exceed $1,800.
Mr Raqiip, who will be using his $800 bursary award for his education expenses, said: "The bursary would help ease the burden of finances for my parents. who work day and night."
Jurong GRC MP Rahayu Mahzam, who was at the ceremony, urged the students to play their part " in doing the best for yourself, your families and the community."
She added: "LBKM is a recognised institution which has been giving support and hope to young people who are pursuing their studies. My hope is that with the community's support, it will continue to grow from strength to strength and continue to play its part to help build the community."
Also at the event, LBKM launched a book, Singapore Malay/Muslim Community 1819 - 2015, A Bibliography, edited by Associate Professor Hussin Mutalib, Ms Rokiah Mentol and Ms Sundusia Rosdi. Professor Dr Hussin Mutalib, a former senior academic with the National University of Singapore, Ms Rokiah Mentol and Ms Sundusia Rosdi who were both former senior librarians with Singapore's the National Library Board. )
Said Mr Suhaimi Salleh, president of LBKM: "With this bibliography, researchers on the Malay Muslim community will have a very comprehensive list of publications that have been published over the last 200 years to refer to, covering all major aspects of our Republic's Malay Muslim life: education, arts, culture, economy, politics, literature, social and many more."
