The government has allocated RM756 million for 1,890 recipients under the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Excellent Students Scheme 2016 for this year, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob.

Ismail Sabri said this was contrary to claims that the government has stopped offering bumiputera students with financial assistance through Mara.

"Certain parties are saying that the government has stopped sponsoring students, that is not true.

"There is only a slight difference to the sponsorship (scheme) this year," Ismail said at a ceremony to present 347 students with their offer letters of scholarships.

Each of the student will receive an allowance, on top of their tuition fees, amounting to RM400,000 per person on average.
Unlike previous years, the Bera MP said the students would spend their foundation year and the first two years of their degree at Mara colleges nationwide, before being sent abroad on a twinning programme.

"This figure (1,890) is on top of 11,844 students who are studying in our local universities," he said.

He also cautioned that failure to maintain academic excellence during their foundation year may result in the full scholarship being revoked or converted into a loan scheme.

At the same time, Ismail Sabri also reminded the students and critics that Mara had since its inception in 1966 spent RM24.7 billion on scholarships and loans for 493,452 students, of which 45,900 were sent abroad.

"When I say Mara, I mean the government. The government of the day, BN," he said.

In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, Ismail Sabri said Mara was also undergoing a transformation to attract more foreign students to enrol in its higher education institutions.

At a press conference later, he explained that Mara is also looking at other countries aside from the US and UK, where its scholars can receive an equal, if not better opportunities, to further their studies, but at a lower cost.

Also present during the ceremony was Mara chairman Annuar Musa.