by TMR

PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a member of the MMC Group continues to bring cheers to underprivileged students in the Gelang Patah area by contributing school essentials during the company’s “Back-to-School Programme 2020” held at Gelang Patah Multi-Purpose Hall.

This year, a total of 170 underprivileged primary and secondary students were chosen to receive the school aid. Each selected student received stationeries, school bags, notebook, colouring utensils and many others.

The presentation ceremony was officiated by Johor State Exco of Housing, Communication & Multimedia cum Iskandar Puteri Assemblyman Dzulkefly Bin Ahmad. Also present were school principals, teachers and parents of students involved in the programme.

Speaking after the event, Dzulkefly said: “It is encouraging to see a dynamic and leading corporate organisation like PTP giving opportunities to these students who mostly come from the B40 family. With this assistance, not only will these students be able to pursue their education in the most comfortable manner, but also help relieve their families’ burdens with the beginning of a new school term.

“We see this collaborative effort as a sound investment into the future for Johor and Malaysia knowing that good education will be the foundation of the growth and wellbeing of the country. This is in line with the state government’s aspiration to have a sustainable human capital supply in Johor.”

Meanwhile, PTP CEO Marco Neelsen said: “Education creates empowerment and it is the catalyst for upward social mobility. As such, we are delighted to be able to play a role in helping students and families involved in the programme and we hope that this will help boost the spirits of the students and further encourage them to strive for their better future.

“PTP has been implementing Back-to-School programmes for more than 13 years with the cooperation of many local parties such as the Johor Bahru Education Officer to deliver assistance and ease the burden of the needy, especially those in the Gelang Patah areas.”

One of the pupils, Arash Muhammad Ulolazmi from Sekolah Kebangsaan Tiram Duku was all smiles as he put on his new school bag. Arash Muhammad said he was grateful and happy to receive the schooling aid from PTP.

By having the new schooling items, he feels more motivated to enter the new school term.

Throughout 2019, PTP has pro-actively organised education-related CSR programmes such as the Container Library Project, English Tuition, English Communication Workshop, Mini Choral Speaking and Motivational Talks for UPSR & SPM students, and Soccer Clinic & League to not only improve the students’ learning efficiency but also be able to compete in the job market once they leave school.