By Elizabeth Looi, Malaysia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Razak said a new category of scholarships would be introduced next year which would be based solely on results obtained by students, and not on their racial background.

The merit-based scholarships will go some way to assuage complaints from non-Malays that some of the brightest Malaysian students are not backed by the government, causing a brain drain.

PM Najib announced the new scheme at a dinner organised by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Associated Chinese Chamber of Industry and Commerce late on Saturday.

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