KTS/Stihl to raise RM1.5m for Chinese schools

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Nikolas (standing second right )washes a car with a pressure gun as a gimmick to launch KTS/Stihl Chairty Car Wash Event at KTS Garden yesterday. Seen with him were (from second left) Henry, Selena and Pick.

KUCHING: KTS Group of Companies (KTS) and Stihl series of ‘Charity Car Wash’ from January to March at seven locations in Sabah and Sarawak aims to raise RM1.5 million for 23 Chinese independent schools in the two states.

The event which kicked off at KTS Garden in Kuching on Jan 13 and 14 marks the 50th anniversary of the collaboration between KTS and the German company, Stihl since 1968.

According to KTS deputy managing director Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau, it is part of KTS Corporate Social Respponsibility (CSR) programme.

Lau said throughout its 55 years of establishment, KTS has emphasised corporate social responsibility while building the group’s business and the company has given back to the community in various ways and will continue to do so.

The event will continue at Sibu Town Square Phase 2 on Jan 20 and 21, before travelling north to Bintulu (location to be announced) on Jan 27 and 28 and  Miri (location to be announced) on Feb 3 and 4.

KTS/Stihl Charity Car Wash will then move on to Sabah in March, starting with  Kota Kinabalu (location to be announced) on March 10 and 11; Yu Yuan Secondary School in Sandakan on March 17 and 18; before ending at Sabah Chinese High School in Tawau on March 24 and 25.

“The Charity Car Wash targets to sell 15,000 car wash coupons worth RM30 each to raise RM450,000.

KTS will double the amount raised on a 2-to-1 basis by giving RM900,000” said Lau before the launch by chairman of Stihl Advisory and Supervisory Board, Nikolas Stihl at KTS Garden yesterday.

“KTS is going to donate RM25,000 to each of the six schools located in rural areas out of 23 schools in the two states,” he added.

Lau who is also chairman of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zhong) said there is a need to raise fund as Chinese independent schools do not receive funds from the government.

Lau added that schools in each area where the event is held, will send their students and teachers to assist in a two-day car wash from 8am to 4pm on the scheduled dates.

He said the coupons were distributed to the schools in October 2017 for sale to the public.

“We hope the event will help instill volunteerism and strengthen the bond between students from different schools. We also hope this event would be an example of how to raise funds for Chinese independent schools,” he said.

Also present at the launching were board member of Stihl Advisory & Supervisory Board Selena Still, Stihl executive board member (Marketing and Sales) Norbert Pick, Stihl head of Sales & Marketing Asia Region Wendelin Ganter, KTS Group of Companies managing director Dato Henry Lau and Stihl Service Centre Southeast Asia managing director Tim Zhang.

Meanwhile, the delegation from Stihl Holding had arrived in the city late Friday evening to celebrate their 50th anniversary of partnership with KTS.

They were given a welcoming dinner at a leading hotel here led by Henry and accompanied by Temenggong Lau, KTS Trading Sdn Bhd Light Machinery Department general manager Augustine Ling, as well as Stihl dealers from Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei.

While they were enjoying the sumptuous spread of local food, talented deejays from TEA FM entertained the guests with their rendition of Chinese and English songs.