TUNKU ZAIN AL-'ABIDIN APPOINTED AS UNI ENROL INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Uni Enrol, Malaysia’s leading scholarship and university application platform, appointed Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz as its Independent Non-Executive Director.

In a statement today, Uni Enrol said Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin would provide strategic stewardship to the organisation’s mission of expanding educational access, bringing a wealth of experience in institutional integrity and social mobility to strengthen the company’s commitment to ethical growth as it scale its impact across the nation.

Tunku Zain, a respected public intellectual who served as chancellor, pro-chancellor, fellow or trustee of both public and private universities, brought deep expertise in policy and education.

"As an Independent Non-Executive Director, he will ensure that Uni Enrol’s expansion remains rooted in its core purpose, levelling the playing field for all Malaysian youth," according to the statement.

Uni Enrol also announced the appointment of Tunku Zain as Honorary Chair for the 2026 Scholarship Acceleration programme, marking a historic turning point as the initiative prepares to surpass RM100 million in cumulative scholarships facilitated for Malaysian students.

"This initiative aims to build upon the groundwork laid by community leaders, with a goal to increase annual scholarship matching to RM17 million in 2026 alone," according to the statement.

The 2026 Scholarship Acceleration sought to honour the legacy of the Scholar Search by improving the visibility of over 600 types of scholarships available through Uni Enrol and by reinforcing education access as a shared national responsibility, the programme is aimed to benefit more than 10,000 students nationwide in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Uni Enrol chief executive officer Rickson Khaw said the path to that moment had been built on a foundation of collective effort, with its flagship Scholar Search since its inception in 2018 powered by a dedicated network of community leaders, educators and local partners across every state in Malaysia.

“The RM100 million milestone we are approaching is a testament to the nine years of tireless contribution from our community partners.

“These leaders have lent their credibility, time, and resources to reach students in the furthest corners of the country. Their belief in our mission has been the heartbeat of Uni Enrol, and this next chapter is a tribute to the trust they have built with us," he said.

Commenting on his appointment, Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin said joining Uni Enrol allowed him to contribute to an organisation operating at the vital intersection of technology, education and social mobility, adding that he was particularly inspired by the platform’s strong grassroots legacy spanning nine years of sustained work alongside community leaders to reach and uplift underserved students.

He said his focus would be on ensuring that as Uni Enrol pursued the ambitious RM100 million milestone, it did so with a steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability and strategic rigour.

The 2026 Scholarship Acceleration initiative, he said, served as a key mechanism to translate the dedication of their community partners into expanded access and greater opportunities, ensuring that no Malaysian talent was left behind.

"My aspiration is to see more young people, particularly Bumiputera youths, complete their higher education. I am also hopeful that we can further extend our reach by empowering them to participate fully in shaping the nation’s future. 

"As part of this effort, enhancing the website with a Malay-language version by mid-year will be an important step in advancing this objective," he said. 

-- BERNAMA