Dato’ Adnan Haji Othman, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Cambodia this morning, 13 February 2008, received Dato’ Dr. Malek Shah Bin Mohd Yusoff, Head of Scholarhip Programme Office, Islamic Development Bank in his office.

During the courtesy call, Dato’ Dr. Malek was accompanied by Brother Saeed-uz-Zafar of IDB and Dr. Sos Mousine, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Rural Development, Cambodia and also President of the Cambodian Muslim Youth.

Dato’ Dr. Malek arrived Phnom Penh on Tuesday for the IDB Scholarship Programme for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries (SPMC).  After Cambodia, he will visit Laos and Vietnam before returning to Jeddah.

According to Dato’ Dr. Malek, the Scholarship Programme for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries was launched in 1404H (1983G) with the objective to provide educational opportunities for the academically meritorious and financially needy young Muslim students from Muslim communities in non-member countries to pursue undergraduate or first-degree study in a university and to train them in specific fields in order to improve their socio-economic conditions, preserve their cultural and religious identities and make a meaningful contribution to the development of their communities and countries.  The Scholarship is tenable at recognized government or private universities in the students' own countries.  Students may also be sent to IDB member countries which places in their universities.

Dato’ Dr. Malek Shah bin Mohd Yusoff was former Director of INTAN.