CATCH: Art for a cause

2009/10/02

THE "Killerbatch" (former Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kulim) students who attended the boarding school from 1979 to 1983, the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) and Galeri Chandan present the art exhibition "I Miss Him So Much" from Oct 1 to 12.

Held at the gallery in Jalan Gelenggang, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, it is aimed at raising funds for a student dormitory for underprivileged students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Fuad Stephens in Kiulu, Tuaran, Sabah Many students travel to school and back on foot daily.

The team plans to name the dormitory “Asrama Donnie”, in remembrance of the late Donnie John Duin, the Year Five Sekolah Kebangsaan Kinarut student who tragically took his own life in March 2007 to ease his family's financial burden.

The dormitory is the alumni’s way of contributing back to society, since they benefited from society through their schooling in Kulim, and the aid they received when furthering their studies to the tertiary level.

The cost of constructing the dormitory is estimated at RM270,000.

As of May 16, 2009, more than RM56,000 in donations and pledges were received.

The amount was handed over to the SCC, supported by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. As a prominent leader of the Kadazandusuns, Musa was moved by the plight of Donnie’s family.

Approximately 40 artists have produced and put up their artwork for sale to help raise the funds in the exhibition.

They include Ahmad Fuad Osman, Bayu Utama Radjikin, Rafiee Ghani, Arman Mohamad, Norazmal Ali and Awang Damit Ahmad.

Some of them have also decided to donate all of the proceeds from the sale of their artworks towards the construction of the dormitory.

For its part, Galeri Chandan has decided to donate its entire share of the proceeds to the fund.

Time: 10am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Call 019-227-9977, 019-473-3519 or 03-2095-5360.