Organisers Hope to Raise RM1 Mln from Golf Tournament

KUCHING: The Charity Golf for Rural Kids Education Fund on April 30 hopes to raise about RM1 million.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said support for the benevolent fund project had been overwhelming, with over RM700,000 in confirmed donations from generous people across the country.

“The objective of the project (tournament) is to raise at least RM500,000, but even before it became official, we have received overwhelming support with over RM700,000 confirmed donations from generous donors throughout the country to this benevolent fund project.

“We are confident of raising about RM1 million to support the rural underprivileged children, particularly those badly affected by the recent flood,” Uggah, who is the patron of the tournament, told a press conference at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya yesterday.

At the press conference, several organisations also donated to the tournament, including HSBC Bank (RM100,000), Trade Winds Plantation (RM30,000), Naim (RM30,000) and Petra Energy Bhd (RM50,000).

Uggah said the charity golf was mooted by a group of volunteers working in Kuala Lumpur and the state as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project to support the many rural children who were badly affected by disasters such as flood.

He thanked the sponsors and organisers of the event, including Samarahan Country Club, where the game will be played.

Uggah said the recent flood in the state had caused major disruption to many rural communities and affected numerous primary schools and students. He said 112 schools (104 rural schools) and 9,936 students (9,150 rural students) in the state were affected, depriving school children of proper facilities and even basic amenities.

He pointed out that the government has a heavy responsibility of restoring, rebuilding and re-establishing the schools and communities affected and it is doing everything possible to assist, adding that as minister in charge of the state disaster management committee, he has first-hand knowledge of the flood situation and their effect.

He said the government needs the support from everyone to help people in the affected areas.

The Source: The Borneo Post