The ceremony highlights Yayasan Khazanah’s mission to invest in leaders who will steward growth in Malaysia’s sovereign wealth and build the nation together.
Kuala Lumpur, 18 August 2025 – Yayasan Khazanah (YK) celebrated its Awards Day 2025 under the theme “Kindle the spark, chart the stars.”Beyond the recognitions handed out to scholars and alumni, the event reinforced a larger truth at the heart of Khazanah Nasional: Malaysia’s sovereign wealth is safeguarded not only by investment decisions, but by the talent entrusted to lead the nation forward.
Khazanah Nasional trustees stressed on nurturing leaders of vision, resilience and empathy. YK, established in 2006, is the vehicle through which Khazanah identifies and develops such leaders.
The Yayasan Khazanah Awards Day 2025 honoured the achievements of its scholars, celebrating not only academic excellence but also leadership and impact. The event reaffirmed the foundation’s mission of nurturing Malaysia’s brightest minds and supporting their growth into future leaders who will advance both the nation and the global community.
Scholars such as Adam Airell Azizul and Ahmad Faiz Yazid exemplify this vision. Adam, a Khazanah Bestari KYS Scholar, combined top academic results with leadership in music, debate, and student governance, while Faiz, a Khazanah Watan Scholar, contributed to national economic policy research and led international youth volunteer projects. Their achievements reflect Yayasan Khazanah’s commitment to shaping leaders who pair excellence with empathy, vision, and service.
Leadership, not just scholarships
In his opening remarks, Trustee Tuan Haji Mohd Adam Mohd Said underscored that YK is about more than financial aid. “We are not in the business of giving scholarships; we are in the business of developing leaders through the provision of scholarships,” he said.
He reminded recipients that their scholarship comes with responsibility: “Every book you open, every challenge you face is not solely for yourself, but for the nation you will one day serve.”
YK’s programme, one of the most comprehensive in the country, blends academic excellence with leadership development, mentorship and community engagement. The result is a generation trained not just to succeed individually but to shoulder the duty of safeguarding Malaysia’s future.
Alumni who give back
Among the voices at the ceremony was Nelson Ng Jia Jun, an aerospace engineering graduate and YK alumnus. His story illustrated how Khazanah’s investment in talent creates ripples far beyond a single scholar.
“A scholarship is given through you, not to you,” he said, reflecting on how his experience shaped the creation of ProjectEd, a student-led effort where YK scholars channelled part of their allowances to fund underprivileged students. What began as a small initiative has now helped more than 30 young Malaysians become doctors, lawyers, educators and many other careers. For YK, Nelson’s journey is proof that talent development multiplies impact across communities, strengthening Malaysia’s social and economic fabric.
Courage, empathy and sacrifice
Closing the event, Trustee and Yayasan Hasanah Managing Director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki reminded scholars that true leadership is measured by service.
“Do not be afraid of challenges, and welcome them as opportunities to grow. True leadership is not defined by titles or accolades, but by the courage to serve others.”
She highlighted the role of families and communities in nurturing scholars, emphasising that behind every achievement lies sacrifice and support.
“Behind every scholar is a story of sacrifice, encouragement, and unwavering love. We celebrate you just as much as we celebrate them.”
Separately, Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Chairman of Yayasan Khazanah informed GetThere that his hope is for Khazanah scholars to grow into knowledgeable, capable and principled leaders, who will not only excel in their fields but also contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s progress and to the betterment of society.
“True success is not measured by how high you climb, but by the positive difference you make in the world,” he says.
Two decades of nurturing leaders
Yayasan Khazanah 2025 award recipients
Since its inception, YK has awarded more than 1,610 scholarships, creating an alumni network now contributing across public service, corporate leadership and civic society. With its 20th anniversary approaching in 2026, the foundation continues to expand its impact, ensuring that Malaysia’s sovereign wealth is not only managed in numbers but in people.
For Khazanah, the vision is clear: a prestigious scholarship must go beyond financial aid and serve as an investment in future leaders. Through Yayasan Khazanah, this mission comes to life—proving that developing exceptional talent is inseparable from building the nation’s wealth in people. .
As the awards ceremony closed, the message was clear. Malaysia’s true wealth is not just financial—it is the leadership, resilience and empathy of its people. And at the heart of Khazanah, talent remains the cornerstone of the nation’s future.
About Yayasan Khazanah
Established in 2006, Yayasan Khazanah is the scholarship arm of Yayasan Hasanah, an impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad. It offers prestigious scholarships and holistic development programmes that go beyond financial aid—providing mentorship, leadership training, and global exposure. Guided by the belief that investing in people is inseparable from nation building, Yayasan Khazanah continues to shape resilient, principled leaders who contribute to Malaysia’s progress across public, private, and social sectors.
