CM praises Astro for CSR programs in Sabah
SANDAKAN: Some 3,000 people including 1,500 special invited guests comprised orphans, the poor, special need people, senior citizens and single mothers were gathered in a ceremony held by Astro at the People’s Housing Project in Sungai Manila, yesterday.
Astro through its Social Corporat Responsibility (CSR), Astro Kasih had also donated RM50,000 to the Charity Fund of Sungai Sibuga constituency.
The Jalinan Kasih Aidilfitri Astro was attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman who is also Sungai Sibuga assemblyman.
Speaking at the ceremony, Musa praised Astro for its social responsibility activities held around the state and hoped other corporate agencies and government link companies could emulate the same move.
Astro Kasih has been reaching out to people in the state through its CSR program including underwater cleanups, known as Project Beautiful Malaysia.
This project started at Mabul Island in 2009 and 2010 and continued at the Tun Sakaran Marine Park in 2011. The greatest achievement of this project is that it has entered the Guinness World Record for the longest underwater cleanup which took over 168 hours non-stop by 134 volunteer divers around the world in Taman Tunku Abdul Rahman in 2013.
Astro has also built a wellequipped hostels through its Astro Kasih projects at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Magandai, Kota Marudu and SK Malinsau, Ranau.
In addition, Astro held the Badminton Camp and Astro Ball Camp held in Kota Kinabalu from 2012 to 2015 to polish young talents.
Astro Kasih also carried out various activities including distribution of NJOI decoder sets to listed recipients of the e-Kasih database. This initiative is part of its CSR in creating social impact by providing free access to education, information, entertainment and sports to lowincome communities, charity bodies and welfare homes including those areas with no accessibility to television services and radio.
According to Astro Board Member, Dato’ Mohamed Khadar Merican, there are four core Astro Kasih CSR which are sports and healthy living, to create continuous learning, to implement initiatives for staff welfare towards social harmony and to promote environmental sustainability.
“Astro will always be committed to play an important role to assist in providing better living to communities. It is Astro’s aim not only to emerge as the best broadcasting company but also as a caring corporate agency for the welfare of society,” he said.
The Astro Jalinan Kasih Aidilfitri was also enlivened by celebrities such as Fahrin Ahmad, Adira, Firman, Nash, Mawi, Mila and Marsha.