‘Alumni have responsibility to help alma mater, students’
KUCHING: The culture of giving back to their alma mater must be cultivated among all ex-students, making alumni associations very important for the school and the community as a whole.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said that former students have a responsibility to help students in need and ensure that none of them quit due to financial constraints.
“We also need to assist in making the school a conducive environment for education,” he said, in a text of speech read out by political secretary to the Chief Minister Michael Tiang, at the Green Road Secondary School ( GRSS) Alumni Homecoming Dinner on Sunday night.
Dr Sim also expressed hope that the GRSS alumni will become the best example for other parties with the capability of contributing towards the excellence of the school.
Present as the dinner were GRSS Alumni Homecoming Dinner organising chairwoman Dr Haseanti Hussein, who is also the GRSS Alumni Association chairwoman. Also present were association advisor Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, who is Bernama chairman, GRSS principal Catherine Ritikos@ Fiziah Abdullah and GRSS ParentTeacher Association deputy president Ramli Omar.
In her speech, Haseanti said the alumni association provides a platform where all ex- Greenians can unite and contribute back to the school and the community.
“Ex- Greenians are all over the world, involved in a wide range of expertise and skills. Some are involved in their own businesses, some are experts in their field and some are even leaders. Everybody plays an integral part in building this nation. The alumni association gives us the opportunity for networking,” she said.
She added that they want to ensure that all Greenians get an equal opportunity to succeed.
“We hope that the school can help us identify the ones in need. Please help us help them break through that social barrier and go beyond their capabilities.”
In a pre-recorded video message, GRSS Alumni Association patron Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri also emphasises networking so that members can help meet the needs of the school. Nancy is a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Batang Sadong MP.