PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - Different category of scholarships will be introduced besides the national scholarship set for next year for "super bright students", Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

The introduction of a national scholarship category based on merit did not mean that high flyers from poor families in rural or remote areas would not be helped.

"The national scholarship will be a new category and it is based on merit but this does not mean that those who deserve to be helped based on their socio-economic background will be left out," he said when briefing leaders and members of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) at his residence yesterday.

Najib had announced the creation of this new category of scholarship during a dinner hosted by MCA and other Chinese associations on his appointment as the country's sixth Prime Minister recently.

He said the national scholarships were for high performers who could go to world renowned universities such as Harvard or Stanford.
"For bright students from rural areas or long houses, for instance, they will have a different category of scholarships. The point here is we will cater to the needs of all Malaysians."

He was touching on meritocracy as one of the elements in the 1Malaysia concept when the category of scholarship was mentioned.

Najib also said it was wise for meritocracy to be used as a yardstick.

"Meritocracy is good so that we can help the best of the best of the Bumiputeras, for instance.

"If all Bumis are treated the same, we may be helping those who do not deserve assistance."

"We will assist those who cannot afford education even though they are non-Malays."