PETRONAS welcomed more than 600 outstanding young Malaysians as recipients of its flagship PETRONAS Powering Knowledge Education Sponsorship  programme, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to empowering the next generation through access to education and opportunities to build meaningful careers.

Comprising high-achieving Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2025 leavers from diverse backgrounds across the country, the scholars were selected through a rigorous process that assessed academic performance, leadership qualities and active participation in co-curricular activities.

This year, PETRONAS has broadened its sponsorship pathways to support evolving talent needs across the PETRONAS Group value chain. In addition to disciplines such as electrical engineering, petroleum engineering, economics and law, the programme now includes architecture, civil engineering, and real estate and property management to support KLCC Holdings, as well as marine engineering, naval engineering and maritime engineering to strengthen the maritime talent pipeline for MISC Group.

The scholars will pursue undergraduate studies in their respective fields at leading institutions locally and abroad, including Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, as well as selected universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China, South Korea and Japan.

PETRONAS Senior Vice President and Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Ruslan Islahudin, noted that the sponsorship is more than an investment in the scholars’ education. It is a trust placed in them to become future leaders and contribute meaningfully to the nation.

“The world you graduate into five years from now will not be the world we know today. Every generation that has faced great uncertainty has also had the opportunity to shape what comes next. So, over the next five years, build more than a good transcript. Build sound judgement, resilience, curiosity and humility. PETRONAS believes in every one of you. Carry this sponsorship as a trust to honour. Lift others as you have been lifted and help make this country stronger than the one placed in your hands today,” said Ruslan, at the award ceremony held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

PETRONAS has committed RM230 million to the PPKES programme this year to support deserving students in pursuing higher education and realising their aspirations. Since its inception in 1975, the programme has supported more than 40,000 Malaysians, with a total investment of over RM4 billion.

Formerly known as the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme, the PPKES programme forms part of PETRONAS’ broader Powering Knowledge initiative, which reflects the company’s continued investment in education as a catalyst for individual advancement and national progress.

Through Powering Knowledge, PETRONAS continues to expand access to quality education and create pathways for young Malaysians to develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to thrive in a changing world. The initiative also contributes to PETRONAS’ Sustainability Agenda and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.