31st Infantry Brigade hosts Christmas party for 140 orphans
SIBU: One hundred and forty children from the Orphans Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Peyatim) Sibu and Methodist Children’s Home Sibu had a great Christmas celebration yesterday – thanks to members of the 31st Infantry Brigade here.
The brigade hosted the inaugural ‘Charity Christmas Party’ at their headquarters in Junaco Park Camp, which also gathered 360 army personnel and their families.
According to the 31st Infantry Brigade commander Brig-Gen Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng, the main objective of the event was to remember the less-fortunate members of the local community during ‘this season of giving’.
“Apart from interacting with the children from these welfare organisations in Sibu, my men also get to foster closer ties with one another as well as with their families.
“As Year 2018 draws to an end, it is important for all members of the brigade to observe, understand and celebrate the various cultures and festivities in Malaysia – this serves to forge better relations between the personnel and their families, as well as the local community,” said Lim, assuring all that the 31st Infantry Brigade would host similar events in celebration of other major festive celebrations such as the Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidfiltri and Gawai Dayak.
He also thanked local sponsors for supporting the event, namely Syarikat Yasamas, Syarikat Bumimas, Berjaya Teguh Enterprise and Cheng An Trading Company.
In this regard, Lim expressed hope that such collaborations would continue in future events.
At the Junaco Park Camp’s Christmas party, the children and the guests were entertained by live performances from the resident band of the Sixth Border Battalion, the ‘D’Six’.
The children also got to enjoy buggy rides and toured a miniexhibition of military vehicles and equipment.
Later, members of the brigade came out dressed as ‘Santa Claus’ and ‘Santarinas’ to give away special cupcakes and Christmas gifts to the children.
The event also hosted Ninth Infantry Brigade commander Brig-Gen Shamsirudin Mohd Shariff, 31st Infantry Brigade chief-of-staff Lt-Col Mohd Zaini Hashim, Sibu Resident Charles Siaw and Junaco Park Camp chief executive officer Khiu Siong Hii.