PUTRAJAYA: The Perdana Fellowship programme offers selected young Malaysians rare insights on how a country is governed, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
He said the programme would give them exposure of the highest level on the government's inner workings.
"This is a golden opportunity for you (the fellows) to realise that it takes more than academic results, but leadership capabilities as well (to manage a country)," he said at the handing over of the fellows to their respective ministries.
Five fellows will do their internship with the prime minister, who is also the Finance Minister.
One of them was second-year student Siti Nurliza Samsudin from Warwick University.
The 21-year-old said she was surprised at being given the opportunity to have the prime minister as her mentor as she had applied to be attached with Pemandu.
"I am certainly nervous, but I will contribute in many ways including doing research and offer my writing skills.
"I am also good at crunching numbers," said Siti Nurliza, who is studying Mathematics and Economics.
Najib also said it is a complex challenge for any leader to run a nation rich in diversity.
"It is not as easy as what one sees from the outside (the government)."
The prime minister said the fellows would also participate in a structured boot camp programme conducted by the private sector including Bursa Malaysia, CIMB and Media Prima Bhd.
For the fourth edition of the programme this year, a total of 82 people from 52 universities are taking part in this year's Perdana Fellowship Programme.
Since its inception in 2013, more than 200 fellows had participated in the programme.