2,848 Scholarship Holders Pay Government RM770 Million to Exit Bond and Work Abroad

RinggitPlus

9th April 2025 - 2 min read

Since 2010, a total of 2,848 Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship recipients have paid back RM770 million to be released from their bond and work overseas. Popular destinations include Australia, USA, the UK, Canada, Singapore, and Brunei.

PSD director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said that out of 16,967 students who received overseas scholarships since 2010, these 2,848 chose to repay their study costs — up to RM1.2 million each — depending on their course and country.

To support flexibility, the government introduced a policy in 2023 allowing students to delay their return to Malaysia by up to three years. If they don’t return after that, they must repay the full scholarship amount.

“The department understands that global exposure is invaluable, which is why we now allow our sponsored graduates to gain work experience abroad before returning to contribute to Malaysia’s development,” he said.

Of all recipients, about 49% have joined the public sector, while others work in GLCs, private companies, or are continuing their studies.

Since the 1970s, PSD has sponsored over 484,000 students for local and overseas studies. Between 2016 and 2024, the government spent RM8.5 billion to fund 114,463 students.

To boost local education, PSD has increased support for Malaysian universities. In 2020, nearly all of the 19,908 sponsored students stayed in Malaysia, with only 464 going abroad.

Looking forward, PSD will focus its scholarships on seven strategic fields: AI and Digital Transformation, Energy Transition, National Security, Food Security, Disaster Management, Cybersecurity, and Public Sector Digital Transformation.

“These fields are critical in ensuring Malaysia remains competitive on a global scale. By sponsoring students in these areas, we hope to develop a workforce that is not only competent but also capable of bringing significant change to the country.”

“We believe that investment in education is an investment in Malaysia’s future. We hope to continue producing generations of leaders and professionals who can bring honor to the country,” he added.

(Source: NST)

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