Three Malaysian undergraduate scholars have been selected as part of the 2027 cohort of Morehead-Cain Global Fellows at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) in the United States. Ying Shan Chan (Chloe), Sidney Chong, and Jun Feng Ng (Jeff), who are all recipients of scholarships from Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR), will participate in the fully funded, one-year fellowship program focused on academic study, leadership development, cross-cultural exchange, research, and personal coaching.
The Morehead-Cain Global Fellows Program aims to enhance the leadership skills of its participants while broadening their global perspectives. The selected scholars, drawn from a pool of 50 shortlisted candidates worldwide, will also receive funding to support travel across the US during their fellowship. The competitive selection process invites emerging student leaders to engage with peers from diverse countries, including Brazil, India, Nigeria, and Turkey.
YTAR served as the Malaysian nominating partner for this programme and proudly announced that these three candidates made the global shortlist before their final selection. The trio is currently enrolled in Malaysian public universities, where they have demonstrated strong academic records and active leadership.
Ying Shan Chan, a law major at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a Towards Inclusion and Equity (TIE) Fund-Tunku scholar, currently holds the position of vice president of academic activities at the Asian Law Students’ Association. In this role, she coordinates academic initiatives across 18 national chapters and facilitates international student forums. Chan has also represented her university at legal and policy discussions and focuses on fostering collaboration among future legal professionals. She plans to pursue a career in corporate law and subsequently contribute to international policy and governance.
Sidney Chong is a biotechnology student at Universiti Malaya (UM) and also a TIE Fund-Tunku scholar. She serves as the chief strategy officer for Insective Lab, a student-led social enterprise dedicated to converting food waste into sustainable livestock feed to assist underserved communities. Additionally, she manages Data Wizard, an initiative providing digital efficiency solutions for nonprofit organizations. Her research interests include biodiesel production and sustainable biopolymers. Chong envisions a future where she integrates her biological research expertise with bio-entrepreneurship to develop affordable healthcare solutions in Malaysia.
Jun Feng Ng, an Amalan Setar-Tunku scholar majoring in finance at UM, leads as president of the Association of Malaysian Economics Undergraduates and also works as a portfolio manager at Next Generation Investment Office. With several national awards in investment and finance, Ng initiated a program reaching over 500 students from across Malaysia’s 14 states, targeting educational support for underprivileged youth. He aims to establish impact investment funds to nurture high-potential, under-resourced talent on a sustainable basis.
The selection of Chan, Chong, and Ng coincides with YTAR’s 60th anniversary, commemorated under the theme “60 Years of Building Leaders for Malaysia.” Since its inception in 1966, the foundation has provided more than 12,000 Malaysian youths with scholarships, financial aid, and leadership development opportunities, distributing a total of RM96.6 million in support. The organization views this fellowship as part of its ongoing commitment to empowering young Malaysians and expanding avenues for leadership and social impact.