Kuala Lumpur – 11 October 2023 – Axiata Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Axiata Group Berhad ("Axiata"), announced its 2023 cohort of its All-Star Bestari Scholarship (ASBS) scholars at a ceremony in Tenera Hotel, Bangi on the 7th of October 2023. These included 36 students pursuing their pre-university and undergraduate education at local public institutions.

Axiata Foundation’s commitment since 2011 in partnership with Kolej Yayasan Saad has seen a renewed, and expanded, commitment. Over the years, the Foundation’s pledge has primarily been directed towards providing scholarships for secondary students. This year, with the introduction of the All-Star Bestari Scholarship (ASBS), this support will now extend to pre-university and undergraduate students.

This scholarship programme provides financial aid to high potential students from low-income backgrounds to empower them in their pursuit and completion of their pre-university and undergraduate studies at local public institutions in Malaysia. With the goal to inspire and nurture future leaders, ASBS will offer structured interventions to foster the personal and professional development of the students in alignment with the programme’s motto “Scholarship Beyond Academics”.

This year’s instalment sees Axiata Foundation providing scholarships to 25 pre-university and 11 undergraduate beneficiaries.

In a dedicated effort to cultivate enduring connections with scholars, Axiata Foundation has organized an award ceremony event where scholars were awarded with the All-Star Bestari Scholarship. The ceremony was officiated by Axiata Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mohamad Kamal bin Nawawi. Following the award ceremony, the foundation will also arrange a transformative retreat spanning 3 days and 2 nights, complete with various team activities tailored for the scholars on a later date. 36 scholars across both the pre-university and university tiers will join the camp at Carpe Diem, Serendah. This retreat will feature numerous workshops aimed at augmenting and honing their leadership skills, including agile leadership, coalition building, and more.

Initiating this orientation camp, Axiata Foundation will set the platform for scholars to engage in purposeful interactions while nurturing camaraderie. The camp will function as an ideal setting for networking, knowledge sharing, and personal growth, demonstrating the Foundation's steadfast commitment to cultivating the talents of the future.

“Our hope is that the All-Star Bestari scholars will embark on a voyage of self-discovery, immersing themselves in a series of engaging team activities designed to foster collaboration, leadership, and communication prowess.” said Axiata Foundation CEO Mohamad Kamal Nawawi. “We anticipate that the upcoming orientation camp will not only broaden the scholars’ personal and professional skill sets yet also pave the way for enduring, lifelong relationships.”

He added that this is part of Axiata Foundation’s unwavering commitment to nurture scholars. “This pioneering approach underscores the foundation’s vision to empower, uplift, and inspire, ultimately catalyzing a brighter future for all.”