RANAU: About 450 students will benefit when the building of MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) is completed by 2021.
The construction of the educationsl institution, which will begin middle of next year, will be the first college funded by Petroliam National Berhad (Petronas).
Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman said the construction of the college building was a testimony of joint-initiative among state government, Petronas and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
He said Petronas had contributed much for the state not only on the company’s core business in oil and gas but also in education and human capital development.
“The building of the college and hostel in rural areas help students to go to school without having to worry about travelling. They only have to be dedicated and make use of the opportunity provided by Petronas,” he said during the launching of the project here.
Also present were Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun; state Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman; Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin and Mara council member Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob.
Wan Zulkiflee said the establishment of the college here was to produce students who excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
"Ranau is chosen (to build the college) as the students here have been having good results in Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination.
“Based on the performance, the people deserve to receive encouragement in the form of an infrastructure," he said, adding another similar rural hostel at SK Pulau Balambangan in Kudat was expected to be completed by 2019.
He added since 2003, 300 students from Sabah had received scholarships from Petronas.
Translated from Berita Harian