Exchanging views: Liow talking to some of the students after they received the Chang Ming Thien Foundation Study Loan at Wisma MCA. On the right is MCA vice-president Datuk Hou Kok Chung.
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has made efforts in nurturing a young and talented work force for the country by providing interest-free study loans to those pursuing their studies at institutions of higher learning, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
The party president said MCA had often emphasised on the importance of education and the party would continue playing its role to groom more talent to help in nation-building through its Chang Ming Thien Foundation.
Since the establishment of the foundation in 2004, Liow said that it had approved a total of 1,849 interest-free study loans totalling RM28.46mil to undergraduates and postgraduates of all races in the country.
“Among them, 1,076 have completed their programmes and started paying back the loans,” he said in his speech at an event to present study loans amounting to RM941,000 to 53 applicants at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
Of the 53 recipients, 32 would pursue their studies overseas, Liow said.
“Although the majority of the applicants are Chinese, the loan is open to eligible students regardless of their race, religion and political background,” he stressed.
Liow also said the foundation had offered a total loan amount of over RM650,000 to 61 students at the Institute of Childhood Education–Studies and Community Education.