KUANTAN — The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has called upon higher education institutions (IPT)—particularly those operating within the state—to come forward and provide dedicated scholarship pipelines for students from Tioman Island to pursue tertiary education.
Al-Sultan Abdullah decreed that a recent landmark sponsorship initiative by Institut Jantung Negara University College (IJNUC) to two outstanding Tioman students should serve as a primary model for other universities aiming to cultivate human capital in rural and island regions.
“Any university from Pahang should also come forward to help our children on Tioman Island. Even though they are far from the mainland, they are still our children who must be given the opportunity to further their studies,” His Royal Highness decreed in an official statement published on the Pahang Sultanate Facebook page on Sunday.
Setting a Benchmark for Rural Talent
The ruler consented to grace and personally perform the presentation during the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) Scholarship Presentation Ceremony, honoring two top-performing students from the island who have secured placement at IJNUC.
Expressing deep pride in the recipients’ academic excellence and merit, Al-Sultan Abdullah urged both students to capitalize fully on the financial backing by maintaining absolute academic focus.
“Failure is not an option. Do not think about failure. Ensure that you succeed within this study period because you will become the benchmark for other youths on Tioman Island,” His Royal Highness stated.
The recipients were further advised to uphold strict personal discipline, optimize their time management, and remain completely focused on their coursework during their relocation to Kuala Lumpur.
Commending IJN’s Regional Social Corporate Footprint
His Royal Highness recorded his formal appreciation to IJN, noting that the medical group consistently pairs its clinical expertise with comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives throughout Pahang.
“IJN’s continuous commitment to go out on the ground to help the community, including those in rural areas, proves the institution’s earnestness in contributing to the well-being of the people of this state,” the Sultan remarked.
Expressing strong confidence in IJN’s standing as an elite medical facility across Asia, the ruler highlighted the long-standing medical cooperation that benefits underserved communities directly.
“I deeply appreciate the cooperation of IJN. They not only look after my health, but every year they come forward together with the state government to implement various CSR programmes for the benefit of the people, including in remote areas such as Kampung Bantal. This dedication is very meaningful to me, the government, and all the people of Pahang,” the decree concluded.
