(From left) Rashid Shukor, Executive Director, Grab Malaysia, alongside the six GrabScholar 2026 recipients, Alia Sopiana Anak Dundang, Abhikhya Varshne A/P Sangkaran, Wan Ilhan Erina Wan Zulkifli, Mohamad Haref Hohpin, Muhamad Juray Nifael Mohamad Jais, Nur Athirah Rosli, and Kularetnam Vijayakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) at the GrabScholar 2026 Awarding Ceremony.

PETALING JAYA, 14 October 2026 – GrabScholar has allowed her to step one foot closer towards her goal of contributing towards adult-autism research, said Athirah Rosli, one of six GrabScholars in 2026. Supported by Grab Malaysia’s GrabForGood Fund, the GrabScholar 2026 scholarship programme is a collaboration with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) for the third consecutive year, underpinning Grab’s efforts to uplift Malaysians towards achieving their aspirations and building towards an equitable and inclusive nation.

GrabScholar represents a deeper effort from Grab in supporting its driver-and delivery-partners, by supporting the aspirations and future of their children and families. The scholarship, open to students pursuing undergraduate degrees at all public universities across Malaysia, especially for sustainability, business, and STEM fields, encompasses full tuition fees, allowances, as well as a unique 2-year leadership development programme.

Speaking at the GrabScholar award ceremony held at Grab Malaysia’s Office, Rashid Shukor, Executive Director, Grab Malaysia, said,

“The GrabForGood Fund is integral to Grab’s mission in driving economic empowerment for everyone, regardless of their background and lived experiences. Every day, we see how hard our partners work to support their loved ones and give them a better life, and this is our motivation to support promising young scholars in their families with scholarships. For us, building towards a better future means creating an inclusive ecosystem where everyone grows and thrives together as they pursue aspirations, develop potential and build brighter futures.”

“We’re looking forward to hearing from more young talents soon. Keep a lookout for the GrabScholar 2027 announcement!”

Also present at the event was Kularetnam Vijayakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) who added,

“Our programme does not only provide comprehensive financial support, but empowers students of different backgrounds through capacity leadership development, giving them the opportunity to shape better futures for themselves, their communities, and Malaysia. We are pleased to have worked with Grab Malaysia’s GrabForGood Fund for the past three years in ensuring Malaysians are able to reach their full potential. We thank Grab Malaysia for their continued trust in us, as we have supported 18 Malaysian GrabScholars thus far.” 

GrabScholar also works with GoBarakah to provide one-off financial assistance of RM220 each for 300 primary and secondary students annually, aiming to alleviate the burden of purchasing school essentials in each new school year. 

Supporting Aspirations and Dreams
Athirah Rosli, 26, is among the six recipients of GrabScholar 2026. A Psychology student at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Athirah’s curiosity of human behaviour drew her towards adult-autism research. As a person with autism herself, and having a non-verbal sister, Athirah wishes to use her own lived experiences to better inform research in the area, which is underdeveloped.

“GrabScholar is inclusive and has no age limits. It made me feel that opportunities for education and growth should not be restricted by age or by how different someone may be from others. Seeing a scholarship that welcomes applicants from different backgrounds encouraged me to take that step and apply to it.”

Juray Nifael, 26, a part-time Grab delivery-partner, is currently undertaking a Bachelors of Law at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). He is the youngest of three siblings, and had juggled his studies alongside working different roles to supplement his mother’s income after losing his father, then the family’s sole breadwinner.

“Since I relied on other financial aid and have also worked as a GrabFood rider to cover my expenses, receiving this scholarship means a lot to me. Now, with the additional financial support, I can focus more on my studies. It really helps me manage my time better,” said Juray.