Over 30 students receive awards from STA
MIRI: More than 30 selected students from here and Bintulu, out of the 962 students across the state who achieved outstanding results in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia ( SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia ( STPM) examinations, received cash awards from Sarawak Timber Association (STA) yesterday.
Those who did well in SPM received RM550 and those who achieved good results in STPM were given RM650 – making the total amount paid to outstanding students this year RM550,600.
STA chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik, whose speech was read out by STA permanent council member James Ho Yam Kuan, said the cash award project — established last year through STA’s subsidiary STA Mutual Sdn Bhd ( STAM) — aims to improve the welfare of communities irrespective of race, religion or creed; and also to provide scholarships and financial assistance to Sarawakians in the field of forestry and timber industries.
“The criteria of selection are that students must be Sarawakians or whose either parent is one; and the students should have at least obtained 8As for SPM and 2As for STPM in their examinations for the year 2016.
“With the increasing number of students receiving the award, we are certainly looking forward to students who are sitting for the examinations, and that we hope that the number (of students) receiving the award will continue to increase next year.”
Apart from the award, Wong said STA also carried out other corporate social responsibilities (CSR) such as financial assistance to outstanding students studying tertiary education, distributing school necessities to primary school students in timber concession areas, as well as financial assistance to repair schools’ facilities and infrastructure in timber
With the increasing number of students receiving the award, we are certainly looking forward to students who are sitting for the examinations, and that we hope that the number (of students) receiving the award will continue to increase next year.
concession areas.
“STA has also been working together with Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation ( STIDC) since year 2012, and as at today, a total fund of RM900,000 has been provided as educational/scholarship fund administered by STIDC for rural primary and secondary schools in Sarawak.
“The areas that have been covered are Mukah, Dalat, Matu and Daro in 2013; Bintulu, Tatau, Sebauh and Belaga in 2014; Miri/Subis and Baram, Lawas, Limbang, Sibu, Kanowit and Selangau in 2016.
“As at July 2017, 454 primary schools and 84 secondary schools (in Sarawak) received our financial assistance,” he said.
At the presentation ceremony, Bong Chu Jun – currently undertaking Bachelor of Engineering ( Electrical Power Engineering) at Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Campus – received an STA Scholarship, while Chan Jie Yun – a Bachelor of Engineering ( Electronic and Communication Engineering) student also at Curtin Sarawak – was given the Daiken Scholarship.
Present to witness the ceremony were Curtin Sarawak pro vice- chancellor Prof Jim Mienczakowski, Daiken Corporation (Japan) representative Michiro Iwashita and Edward Lim Su Bang from Daiken Sarawak Sdn Bhd.
Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik, STA chairman