KUCHING: The Tan Guek Kee and Lee Siew Ling Charity Foundation doled out a total of RM2,160,888 to 23 charitable and educational organisations, and scholarships for 21 students here today.
The Association of the Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools Kuching-Samarahan & Serian Division, Sarawak topped the list with RM760,000 followed by Kuching Hockien Association Mazu Temple Fund Raising with RM388,888 and the Committee of Management of Kuching Chung Hua Primary School No.1-6 (RM210,000).
Kuching Life Care Society received RM205,000, Sarawak Heart Foundation (RM100,000), Chung Hua Middle School No.1 (RM60,000), Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (RM50,000), with Chung Hua Middle School No.3 and Chung Hua Middle School No.4 given RM45,000 each.
SJK Chung Hua No.4 Kuching received RM16,000 while Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching received RM15,000, with Kuching Autistic Association and The Federation of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Chinese Associations, Sarawak the recipients of RM10,000 each.
Sarawak Hun Nam Siang Tng received RM8,000 while Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society Sarawak, CHK Moral Uplifting Society Kidney Foundation, Che Hui Khor Moral Uplifting Society Kuching & Samarahan Divisions Sarawak, The Salvation Army, The Federation of Kuching Division Community Associations Sarawak, Breakthrough Network Centre Bhd., Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce & Industry each receiving RM5,000.
Beneficiary of RM3,000 was Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia while Persatuan Kebajikan Masyarakat Taman Hui Sing Kuching received RM2,000.
Meanwhile, RM198,000 were also split among the 21 students who were entitled to be given for scholarships.
They received the donations from philanthropist Datuk Tan Guek Kee, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Lee Siew Ling, during a ceremony held at Hoi Tin Lau Restaurant, Aeroville Mall here, witnessed by Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Among those present were director and secretary of the Charity Foundation Datuk Jonathan Chai and Kapitan Tan Kun Gee.
In an address, Chai said the foundation had disbursed more than RM9 million to various charitable and educational bodies since its establishment in 2014.
He noted that RM9 million ‘is not a small figure’ given that not all affluent individuals would commit themselves to charity efforts like Tan does.
“I have known him since 1993 and I have seen how his business grown to this stage but what made me respect him the most is the fact that he did not wait until he became rich to contribute to the society but he has been doing it all these years right until today.
“Whenever he found out that there is a need in the society, he would be coming out to lend a helping hand which I believe he deserves more plaudits for his good deeds,” Chai said.
Dr Sim concurred and called on more affluent Sarawakians to emulate Tan in reaching out to those in need and the development of education and society.
“We need more philanthropists like Datuk Tan in this society en route to our target of becoming a developed state in 2030,” said Dr Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Local Government and Housing.
He believed that Sarawak would achieve that target if the people stay united, adding that In more than 60 years of Malaysia, the country had never been so divided but thankfully Sarawak was not like that.
“I hope we can stay that way moving forward and in order to have another stabilised 60 years, we Sarawakians have to remain as one,” he added.
