Anuar and Irwan (seated second and third left respectively) giving the thumbs up with the recipients and other guests after the event yesterday.
MIRI: A total of 100 students from 13 primary schools in Sibuti area benefitted from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) ‘Back-to-School’ programme held at Sri Gemilang hall, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bekenu here yesterday.
The programme was organised by Petronas Muslim Staff Welfare Association (Bakip) to assist and support hardcore poor students in Sarawak under which RM50,000 in tithe has been distributed to some 300 needy students in the Miri district.
According to head of Sarawak Oil – Malaysia Assets (Upstream) PCSB Anuar Ismail, the first batch of recipients comprising 200 students from 20 selected primary and secondary schools in Miri received the donation during a ceremony held at SK Oil auditorium, PCSB Sarawak Oil last January.
“This is the second programme held in Miri area and the contributions for this programme were made possible by tithe (zakat) collected from Muslims staff of Petronas. The programme reinforces Petronas’ Corporate Social Investment (CSI) thrust to support education and assist the less privileged and each of the students today (yesterday) are receiving a school bag, stationeries and pocket money.
“Petronas remains committed to developing the quality of learning in Sarawak and since 2010, about RM400 million has been invested to strengthen the education and human capital development aspects of Sarawak,” he said while thanking Baitulmal Miri, schools’ community and individuals who have come forward to assist in identifying students in need of assistance.
Anuar further added that through the Petronas Education Sponsorship Programme, more than 46 Sarawakian children have benefited and are currently pursuing their education at leading universities both locally and abroad.
Among Petronas other education related Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) include Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) Bintulu (in collaboration with Yayasan Sarawak and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), expected to be completed in 2021 and capable of accommodating 450 students at a time, ‘Program Sentuhan Ilmu Petronas’ (PSIP), Graduate Employability Enhancement Scheme (GEES), Vocational Institute Sponsorship and Training Assistance (Vista) and Program Budi Petronas.
“Since 2007, more than 1,100 youth trainees from Sarawak benefited from Vista. Meanwhile, university graduates also enrolled through the Graduates Employability Enhancement Scheme or SL1M-GEES, whereby up to today, 30 Sarawak children who participated in this programme are currently working with Petronas,” he said hoping the contribution will motivate students to pursue their studies and achieve excellent academic performance.
The students who received the contribution yesterday were from SK Bekenu, SK Beliau Isa, SK Tawakal Satap, SK Kampung Selanyau, SK Kampung Bungai, SK Kampung Angus, SK Kampung Masjid, SK Kampung Subak, SK Beliau Ahad, SJK Chung Hua Sibuti and SK Kampung Kuala Sibuti.
Among those present yesterday was Subis district deputy education officer Irwan Tambi.