Ma beating the drum to declare open the event.
KAPIT: The Kapit Chiang Chuan Association is offering a RM300 incentive to any local student aiming to pursue studies at various institutions of higher learning this year.
According to its president Ma Tian Kock, the aid is made available to children of the association’s members.
“I’m pleased to announce that we have settled the bank loan for our premises along Jalan Pemanca Law Cheng Eng, which means that we are now able to collect around RM50,000 annually from rentals.
“As such, the board of management has decided to use the money towards providing welfare aid to our members, including offering RM300 as incentive for their children who want to pursue higher learning, beginning this year,” he told some 600 guests during the association’s annual pre-Chinese New Year Dinner here last Sunday, where he also distributed angpows to some 30 students.
The objective, Ma stressed, was to promote the endeavour towards quality education among those from the rural communities.
“We want our children from the rural communities like Kapit to perform as well as their urban counterparts.
“However, we know very well that not all parents could afford this, seeing that there are many costs involved such as tuition fees, food and lodging at institutions outside the district – be they in Kuching, Miri or Peninsular Malaysia.”
Thus, he hoped that the RM300 would help lessen such financial burden.
“The association is now in a better financial position than before and would like to help children of our members in their pursuit for education.
“Based on my simple calculation, the RM300 for each student, plus RM500 from the Larry Sng Education Fund and another RM500 from the Tai San Ten Association, would total RM1,300 – the very least that all of us could come up with in helping to cover the costs for transportation, registration and stationery items for the students as they await the approval of their PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans,” he said.
Ma, in his speech, said he could not stress further the importance of attaining higher education.
“The Education Ministry receives the largest allocation from the national budget every year because the government is determined in tapping the country’s human resources to the fullest.
“It is only when our Generation Y (youths) are educated could we realise the target of being a developed nation by 2020, which is only a few away.
“For those with good academic results, pursue higher studies at universities by all means. However for those who did not do so well, do apply for vocational and technical skills training. You are the potential human resources for Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu – those whom the international firms would be looking for.”
The association also held a presentation of angpows to some 80 senior citizens aged 65 and above during the pre-Chinese New Year dinner. Ma said this was its annual programme.
“I will admit that the amount (for the angpows) isn’t significant. It is more of our way of keeping to the Chinese tradition of honouring our elders, who’ve contributed so much to us, the today’s generation. We own the shoplots today because our elders had the wisdom and foresight, and they sacrificed a lot to ensure that their children would be better off today.
“We truly appreciate them for that and hope that we could instill the very same values in our youngsters,” Ma said at the event, which was also attended by the association’s adviser Sng Geok Seng, Councilor Ma Bee Kuan, Councilor Jenny Yii, Temenggong Tan Kian Hoo, Pemanca Yong Thu Fook, Kapitan Micky Ngu, Kapit Foochow Association chairman Sii Bang Ee, Kapit Chinese Women Association chairwoman Wong Kie Ing and United Chinese Association chairman Liew Song Swee.
There were also lucky draws at the function, apart from the presentation of education incentive and angpows.