446 Children Of MAF, MINDEF Personnel Receive Academic Incentives For Excellent SPM Results

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- A total of 446 children of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) personnel who scored 5As or more in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination received academic excellence incentives today.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the number marked a significant increase over the previous year, when 383 students achieved excellence, with one student securing 12As.

To recognise their achievements, he said MINDEF allocated RM298,400 through the 2026 SPM Education Excellence Award (AKP) Academic Incentive for the students.

"The ministry, through the Armed Forces Fund Board Foundation (LTAT Foundation), is committed to providing educational support because we believe the operational readiness of our personnel begins with the well-being of their families," he said at the 2026 MINDEF and MAF Education Excellence Award presentation ceremony at Wisma Perwira ATM here today.

Mohamed Khaled said the ministry also allocated RM166,000 to benefit another 159 children of MINDEF and MAF personnel pursuing higher education at public universities and institutions abroad.

Mohamed Khaled attributed the students' success to targeted intervention programmes, such as SPM e-Perkasa and SPM Sentuhan Elit, which have systematically improved academic grades.

Under the SPM e-Perkasa Programme, he said 644 students passed, reflecting a 98.77 per cent pass rate, while the SPM Sentuhan Elit Programme helped four of six In-Camp Schools (SDK) improve their School Average Grade (GPK).

"The implementation of this large-scale educational agenda aligns with the Ministry of Defence’s Sixth Focus for 2026, which prioritises the welfare and socio-economic empowerment of the defence community as a core pillar," he said.

He added that the LTAT Foundation now serves as the ministry’s primary instrument to ensure a holistic welfare ecosystem through various educational interventions, from Year One to university graduation.

Other initiatives include fostering a culture of saving through National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) accounts from Year One and providing scholarships through strategic collaborations with several universities.

"For higher education, besides admission assistance for public and overseas universities, we offer the LTAT Foundation-IIUM Ummatic Scholarship for studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

"Strategic partnerships have also been established with City University Malaysia and King's University College to provide scholarships for the children of MAF personnel, veterans, and MINDEF staff," he said.

Mohamed Khaled added that the ministry has also introduced the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education programme in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), starting with in-camp schools in the northern region.

For unemployed graduates, the ministry offers the 'Pro-Wira' (Ready-to-work Graduate) programme, providing one year of industrial exposure with a monthly allowance of RM2,000.

-- BERNAMA