MALACCA: He used to walk several kilometres to school in his torn shoes and by night he improved his English by reading old copies of The Star, which his mother brought home.

Sugan Selvarajah, 18, is now set to fulfil his dream of studying abroad, thanks to a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship and financial help from the state government and MIC.

But the Royal Military College student, whose parents are odd-job workers, almost turned down the offer to do the seven-year Masters programme in chemical engineering at the Institute of Technology in Touraine, France.

He could not bear to ask his parents for money to buy decent clothes and for other initial expenses.

But Sugan's determination to realise his dream prompted him to take a taxi from his home in Taman Mesra Rim, Jasin, to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam's office in Air Keroh to seek help.

“He was in a tattered T-shirt and slippers when he came to the office,” the chief minister's special secretary Datuk M.S. Mahadevan said, adding that Sugan showed him his certificates, the PSD's offer letter and spoke in fluent English when appealing for help.

Mahadevan said he contacted Mohd Ali who was abroad at that time and told him about the high-achiever whose PMR results won him a place at the military college three years ago.

“His reply was: Do all you can for the student to ensure he makes it to France. Tell him that I am proud of him,” he said.

He said Mohd Ali also asked him to inform MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who in turn, also offered financial assistance to Sugan.

Bon voyage: Sugan hugging his mother G. Vasantha while his father Selvarajah looks on at their home in Jasin. Sugan will leave for Paris tomorrow.

Mahadevan said the former Tamil school pupil told him that he improved his English proficiency by reading old copies of The Star which his 37-year-old mother collected for side income from recycling.

He said despite being hungry on most days, the student burned the midnight oil to score straight As in his PMR and SPM examinations.

While Mahadevan was taking Sugan and his father R. Selvarajah, 47, shopping a few days ago for clothes, shoes and other items for his stay in France, Mohd Ali sent another SMS asking him to get proper winter clothing for the student and give him additional cash before he leaves for Paris tomorrow.

Sugan expressed his gratitude to the state government for helping him.

“Many people told me that such requests won't be entertained by the state government but it isn't true. I promise to study hard and return to Malacca as a successful person and prove that poor students like me can still make it,” he said.

Sugan, the eldest of four siblings, said his brothers and his only sister were also determined to study hard and get similar scholarships.

“All of us have gone hungry. We did not have decent shoes to wear or use laptops like our schoolmates but the lack of these things won't stop us from achieving our dream of becoming professionals,” he added