Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) will soon accept applications for its cadet pilot programme, which offers financial sponsorship for flight training at selected academies, including Malaysia Aviation Group and BATS Aviation [1, 2].
The programme requires applicants to be from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) stream, with priority given to tahfiz students who have memorized the Quran [1, 2]. MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the final interview phase includes a Quran memorisation test conducted personally by him using the tasmik method [1]. "The final phase of the interview will be conducted by me personally, where I will run the Quranic memorisation test based on the tasmik method," he said [1].
MARA mandates that academies sponsored must hold agreements with airlines to provide job placements to graduates of the cadet programme. "Academies sponsored by Mara must have agreements with airlines to secure jobs for the trainees who will be receiving this financial funding," said Asyraf Wajdi [1].
Announced on May 16, the programme aims to increase the number of qualified Bumiputera pilots and expand career opportunities for tahfiz students in aviation [2]. Following social media criticism questioning the inclusion of tahfiz students, Asyraf Wajdi defended their academic achievements on May 18. "It pains me to see the negative comments on MalayMail’s Facebook section, trying to belittle and challenge MARA’s efforts to uplift Tahfiz students as professionals, including pilots," he said. "Say what you will. As long as I am MARA chairman, efforts to uplift the agenda of professionalising the huffaz will continue to be strengthened," he added [3].
In support of his stance, eight MRSM Ulul-Albab schools where students memorize the entire Quran ranked among Malaysia’s top 20 schools in the SPM 2025 results. Also, 221 Huffaz MRSM students scored straight A’s, including in science and math subjects [3].
MARA has expanded its scholarship and training programmes to include tahfiz students in fields like aviation, medicine, and engineering to foster more Bumiputera professionals [3].
Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said, "Mara will release the official advertisement along with the eligibility requirements for this cadet pilot programme very soon" [1].
