IPOH: The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang distributes a total of RM344,000 in cash aid to 172 underprivileged students from Chinese schools in Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis in its second cash aid project.

Each student will be receiving RM2,000.

Nine Chinese independent schools in Perak received a total of RM144,000 for its 72 students, ten Chinese primary schools in Perlis received RM40,000 for 20 pupils, three Chinese independent schools in Kedah received RM60,000 for 30 students, and five Chinese independent schools in Penang received RM100,000 for 50 students.

The mock cheque was presented by Ding Qiao, Vice Consul-General of the Chinese Consulate General in Penang, to four representatives from the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) in the four states — Perak chairman Ngan Teng Ye, Perlis secretary Thow Hing Chuang, Kedah chairman Ch’ng Chuwn Leong and Penang chairman Lee Tiam Lim.

Ding Qiao said after distributing the first cash aid project last year that the consulate decided to continue with the project this year to help poor students with outstanding academic achievements in what she called a “bond between China and Malaysia”.

The project, which will fortify to the friendship between Malaysia and China, helps the younger generation in their pursuit of their dreams.

She encouraged Malaysian students to further their studies in China, adding that the number of Malaysian students studying in China exceeds 10,000 each year.

Ding also said Malaysian students are familiar with the Chinese culture and this gives them an advantage in their studies in China.

There are currently about 60,000 Malaysian students studying in China.