KUALA LUMPUR: Special needs educator Wan Zulhelmi Wan Kamaruzaman, 31, could not contain his excitement after being awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.
The youngest of six siblings from Raub, Pahang, aid he only had one word to describe his feelings upon receiving the award - proud.
"(I am) extremely proud. I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear for the whole week," he said.
Zulhelmi, who is also a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award by the Malaysian Dyslexia Association, will be attending a one-year master's programme focused on special needs and child poverty at the University of Leeds.
He said he already has plans as to how he would apply what he learns there.
"I would like to connect special needs education centres in the country with B40 families, giving them a platform and resources they need," he said.
He is among the 32 recipients of the prestigious scholarship who attended a reception at the British High Commission.
At the same event, the United Kingdom launched the Chevening Asean Scholarship Programme, granting Malaysia an additional spot for the prestigious award.
Acting High Commissioner to Malaysia David Wallace said the programme is offered due to Asean's unique relationship with the UK.
"Asean is an important partner to the UK. In 2022, the UK became a Dialogue Partner to Asean, the first new dialogue partner in 25 years.
"The Chevening Asean Scholarship Programme will enable more scholars from Southeast Asia (including Malaysia) to study in the UK," Wallace said at the event.
He said Malaysian scholars represent the second-highest number per capita in Asean, with around 700 applicants for this year's intake.
Present were representatives from partner organisations, namely, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Yayasan Khazanah, CIMB Foundation, and Petronas.