Kuala Lumpur, 26 August 2025 – Alexender Simong Anak Gawai grew up in Rumah Gawai Sungai Mupong, raised by his mother in a single-parent household and supported by a close-knit longhouse community. Alexender left school after Form 3, but next month, he will begin a permanent role as a Harvesting Specialist with SD Guthrie in Bintulu, Sarawak made possible through the Harvesting Specialist Programme run in partnership with SD Guthrie, Institut Perladangan dan Komoditi Malaysia (IMPAC), and Sarawak Skills SAVTI.  

Similarly, Daniel Lai Chun Ming, from Miri, Sarawak, turned his life around after enrolling in the YSD Certificate of Heavy Equipment Programme at the Sime Industrial Academy. Today, he earns above Malaysia’s premium TVET salary benchmarks as a technician with Sime Industrial Tractors Malaysia — proving that with the right training, youth without academic qualifications can thrive in high-paying, in-demand careers. 

Alexender and Daniel are among the many lives transformed this year through Yayasan Sime Darby’s (YSD) Skill Enrichment (TVET) Programme. With support from Belanjawan 2025, YSD is expanding its TVET initiatives to reach underserved communities in Sarawak, Sabah, Terengganu, and Kedah, enabled by a RM2.54 million TVET matching grant. YSD aims to extend this support to more than 400 students by year-end, significantly broadening access to skills training and employment pathways. 

To support this expansion, YSD has strengthened its nationwide TVET partner network to 14 institutions, ensuring that training remains aligned with industry needs. In addition to longstanding collaborators like Sime Industrial Academy, IMPAC, CIDB Malaysia, Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM), and Ministry of Education’s Bahagian Pendidikan dan Latihan Vokasional (BPLTV), YSD has welcomed new partners including Automotive and Welding Institute of Sarawak (AWISAR), Sarawak Agriculture Vocational Training Institute (SAVTI), and Sabah Skills & technology Centre (SSTC)—broadening access to certified training in automotive, agriculture, welding, construction, and heavy equipment sectors. These partnerships are vital in turning training into real job outcomes—just like they did for Alexender and Daniel.

“TVET does more than match skills to jobs — it changes life trajectories. From our experience, nearly all YSD TVET graduates secure job placements soon after completing their training. By year-end, YSD aims to award an additional 350 TVET bursaries under the YSD Skill Enrichment Programme to underprivileged students,” said Datu Dr. Rashidah Bolhassan, Non-Independent Governing Council Member of YSD.

Today, YSD hosted a special ceremony celebrating the power of TVET opportunities and inclusive education under the theme “Building Brighter Futures”. A total of RM3.69 million in scholarships and bursaries was awarded to 142 outstanding students. With these awards, YSD has now provided a total of 6,238 scholarships, amounting to over RM392 million since its inception. Held at SD Guthrie Auditorium,  senior leaders from SD Guthrie Berhad, Sime Darby Berhad and Sime Darby Property Berhad were present for the ceremony.

The event was graced by YB Senator Tuan Isaiah D. Jacob, who serves in the Malaysian Senate and represents the Persons with Disabilities (OKU) community.  In addition to TVET recipients, the 2025 cohort included 22 persons with disabilities (OKU), 5 outstanding young talent under the YSD Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship Programme and 18 employees from donor companies under the Employees Education Programme. Another 39 bursaries were awarded to employees’ children to pursue higher education locally.

The ceremony also celebrated exceptional achievements: 

• Kashmeetha Pillai, winner of the YSD Chairman Award 2025, is a First-Class degree achiever from the YSD Excellence Programme. She contributed 209.5 volunteer hours across two years while studying, and led sustainability and advocacy through Roots & Shoots Malaysia and AIESEC, a global youth-led leadership organisation, exemplifying YSD’s values of excellence, sustainability and community impact.
• Thayananth Kumaresan, YSD Excellence Award 2025 recipient, had co-created an award-winning health software application and led 30 community projects.
• Abdullah Haziq Aiman, winner of the YSD Inspirational Award 2025, is now working in Singapore as a BIM Modeler; succeeding in life despite the loss of family at an early age.

The well-established YSD THRIVE Programme plays a vital role in the success of all YSD scholars by providing comprehensive development opportunities. This holistic initiative equips scholars with soft skills training, mentorship, leadership development, industrial internships, volunteerism experiences, and access to an e-learning platform — all designed to nurture well-rounded personal and professional growth. With its latest scholarships, YSD continues to advance social mobility and strengthen the nation’s talent pipeline through inclusive education and skills development. 

Applications for the next scholarship cycle open in March on YSD’s website. 

About Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) 

Yayasan Sime Darby or Sime Darby Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad, and Sime Darby Property Berhad. Established in 1982, the foundation revolves around five pillars which are Education, Environment, Community & Health, Sports, and Arts & Culture. Led by an independent Governing Council, the foundation is managed by a dedicated team who works closely with the three (3) YSD donor companies in areas of mutual interest. Since its inception, the foundation has expanded its wings from offering scholarships to outstanding and deserving individuals to funding impactful conservation, outreach and development programmes. For more information, visit www.yayasansimedarby.com

For media enquiries, please contact:  
Lea Ellisyhia, lea.ellisyhia@sime.com, +60173440202