HIGHLY MOTIVATED: Recipients of the STA and Daiken scholarships together with STA honorary secretary Dato Henry Lau (seated centre) and Daiken Sarawak senior manager Anthony Chin (seated fourth left). — Photos by Jeffrey Mostapha.
TIMELY CONTRIBUTIONS: Recipients of the STA and Daiken scholarships, and representatives from the 14 independent Chinese schools gather for a photo opportunity with (seated from third left) Tagat, Chin, Lau, Wong, Choo and Wee.
KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) and Daiken presented scholarships to eight recipients at Wisma STA yesterday.
Recipients of the STA Scholarships are Mohamad Hamizan Malek, Godfred Eugene La-En and Ronald Lian Nuh.
Hamizan is currently pursuing his second year of Bachelor of Science with Honours in Plant Resource Science and Management at Unimas.
Godfred is doing his final year in the same field, while Ronald is doing his final year of Bachelor of Wood Science Technology at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He is currently doing his industrial training with Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
STA honorary secretary Dato Henry Lau Lee Kong said that STA is currently exploring the possibility of providing full scholarships to deserving degree students pursuing Bachelor in Engineering in Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Curtin University of Technology Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Daiken Scholarships went to five students.
Yong Lee Kien is Daiken’s latest recipient. She is doing her first year of Bachelor of Science with Honours (Plant Resources
Science and Management) at Unimas.
Leong Ting Hao is the Daiken Scholarship recipient for 2012. He is currently in his second year of the same course, while Cheah Bin Pin, 2010 recipient, is doing her final year.
Curazon Landon Munan was awarded the 2010 Daiken Scholarship and is pursuing her third year in Bachelor in Engineering at the Engineering Faculty of Unimas.
Adeline Tan Jia Jia is on her second year of Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus. She was a Daiken Scholarship recipient for 2012.
Daiken Sarawak senior manager Anthony Chin said they hoped to contribute towards the development of skilled and knowledgeable human resource to help sustain the timber industry in Sarawak.
“The best part about this scholarship is that it is a non-binding scholarship. We hope and trust that the students who were selected will enjoy themselves and excel in their studies, and will one day contribute as new leaders and role models for the Sarawak.”
The ceremony yesterday also witnessed STA making a total contributions of RM350,000 to 14 independent Chinese secondary schools.
“We are given to understand that these schools are operating at a huge deficit of RM5 million annually.
“STA is honoured to be able to play a part to assist these 14 schools and the Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Secondary School Management Board,” said Lau.
STA also gave another RM150,000 to the Board for scholarships to be given out to deserving but needy students.
Students in the rural area can also benefit from a RM100,000 education fund, to be administered by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation.
“STA believes that its support to raise the education level is in line with the objective of our education in Malaysia to develop the potential of individuals through quality education,” said Lau.
Also present at the ceremony were Daiken Miri Sdn Bhd manager Simon Wong, STA honorary treasurer and STA Mutual Sdn Bhd director Phillip Choo Kwong Hui, Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Secondary School Management Board vice president Richard Wee Liang Chiat, and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation senior assistant general manager of trade control division Tagat Jimbat.