KUCHING: A charity golf event will be held on 30 April this year to help rural children whose schools have been affected by the recent floods in the state through the ‘Charity Golf For Rural Kids Education Fund’.
This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during a press conference held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy, revealed that about RM700,000 has already been raised for the fund project even before the official launching.
The charity golf event is co-sponsored by the MyKasih Foundation and also Samarahan Country Club, where the game will also be held.
“Whatever that we have raised will be channelled to the MyKasih Foundation because they have the mechanism of reaching out to the interior and they have a set system which has been found to be effective.
“This is one of the issues faced by both the government and private sector in trying to help achieve a very effective system,” said Uggah, who is also the Chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee.
He also revealed that 112 schools were affected by the floods, which left school children being deprived of proper facilities and even basic amenities all over the state.
“The government has the heavy responsibility in restoring, rebuilding, and re-establishing the schools and communities affected and is doing everything possible to assist,” he said.
Uggah added that he hopes this will not be the last time working with the foundation as there are more within the rural community that needs help.
“In the interior they still need assistance as some are still nomadic, some don’t have legal documents, and so much more.
“Once we have established a system then we will try to reach out to them as one of my responsibilities as a minister of rural economy is to try to uplift the life of the people living in rural areas,” he said.
Uggah also called for more support from Sarawakian companies and the general public to give their support.
The event also saw the presentation of cheques from various companies to the fund; Dialog Group Sdn Bhd, HSBC, IOI Group, Petra Energy Berhad, Naim, and Tradewinds Plantation.
Also present during the event were MyKasih Foundation chairman Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat and organising chairman Datuk Richard Lee.
The charity golf was started by a group of volunteers working in both Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.
