Corporate leaders urged to emulate KTS’ CSR initiatives
SIBU: Corporate leaders are urged to emulate the commendable initiative and efforts KTS made in organising the ‘KTS/STIHL Charity Carwash’ held at Sibu Town Square Phase 2, on Jan 20 - 21 to raise money for Chinese independent schools.
Second Minister of Finance and Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh stressed that the initiative clearly reflected their concern for the development and progress of Chinese education.
He was speaking at the official launching of the ‘KTS/STIHL Charity Carwash’ yesterday.
“KTS plays an exemplary role in exercising the corporate social responsibility (CSR) that greatly contributes towards the development of our Chinese Independent Schools.
“I hope that more business organisations will come forward and play their role to help our children who study in Chinese Independent Schools,” he added.
Wong said, it is their joint responsibility at all levels to help make sure that the Chinese Independent Schools continue to sustain their development and progress in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Sibu was the second location for the charity car wash after Kuching on Jan 13-14 at KTS Garden.
After Sibu, the event will be held in Bintulu on Jan 27- 28, Miri (Feb 3- 4), Kota Kinabalu (March 10 - 11), Sandakan (March 17 - 18) and the final location in Tawau on March 24 -25.
KTS deputy managing director Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau in his welcoming address said, the ‘KTS/STIHL Charity Carwash’ aimed to raise RM1.5 million for 23 selected Chinese Independent Schools in both Sarawak and Sabah.
He added that the event was also held to mark the 50 years of partnership between KTS Group of Companies and German power tool company STIHL.
“Our target is to raise RM450,000 through selling car wash coupons at RM30 each, and KTS will top up the amount on a 2-to-1 basis to RM900,000.
“On top of that, for six out of the 23 Chinese Independent Schools that are located in the rural areas, KTS is going to donate another RM25,000 to each school, totalling RM150,000,” he said.
“Chinese education forms part and parcel of Malaysian history. It has existed for many years and helped to provide quality education for generations.
“Even though Chinese Independent Schools are not part of the nation’s mainstream education, it has been playing an important role in the country’s development and nation building,” he pointed out.
Lau said, a great number of graduates from the Chinese Independent Secondary Schools have achieved excellence in their chosen fields, made outstanding contributions to the society and have shown exceptional dedication to the country.
“Being private schools, the Chinese Independent Secondary Schools do not receive funding from the government.
“Their survival is solely dependent on the support from the public and almost exclusively from the Chinese community,” he added.
Lau said, on that note, he wished to acknowledge the contributions of the Chinese community in sustaining Chinese Independent Schools in Malaysia all these years.
“Thank you for your relentless support as we continue to preserve and develop vernacular education as part of the academic advancement in the country.
“It is my sincere hope that the Chinese Independent Schools in the State with the collaboration of the State Government and the Chinese community will carry on striving for excellence and continue to provide quality education to our young generations into the future,” he added.