Nik Nur Madihah can do A-levels in UK

The loan will enable the 18-year-old to study A-levels at any institution of her choice in the United Kingdom.

Currently, those on Mara loans have to take up A-levels locally before continuing their studies overseas.

They also need to go through interviews before they can qualify for the loan.

Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the normal process was waived for Nik Nur Madihah because of her excellent results.

"I've decided to give her this privilege, not because she is from a poor family but because she has consistently shown good results in her studies.

"She has proved that poverty is not an obstacle to success. We hope this will motivate her younger siblings to study hard. This will also motivate the poor. If they work hard enough, educational opportunities are available to them," he said after launching the "One Family One Company" campaign at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Noh said the loan would be converted to a full scholarship if Nik Nur Madihah continued to excel in her studies.

He said an officer from Mara would present her an offer letter soon.