PONTIAN: MALAKOFF Corporation Bhd (Malakoff) recently held its "Melentur Buluh" programme at one of its 10 adopted schools.

     The programme to instill positive values in schoolchildren was held at SK Seri Sinaran Chokoh, here.

   Malakoff also donated RM20,000 to the school to build better learning facilities.

   Now in its second consecutive year, the employee-initiated programme involves 20 of  Malakoff's staff.

  Armed with cleaning equipment, they roped in the  students and teachers in a  gotong-royong to spruce up the school, including giving it a fresh coat of paint.

  Malakoff chief executive officer  Zainal Abidin Jalil said Malakoff truly believes it is imperative to share the company's  success with the local communities. The tradition also underscores its ethos "to serve".

  "This is why we have continued to organise the 'Melentur Buluh' programme as an integral part of Malakoff's flagship CSR platform - the Malakoff Community Partnerships," he said.

  "As the Malay proverb goes, 'Melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya' (It is best to bend the rattan when it is young), Malakoff will continue to implement initiatives to support character-building and develop positive values in the young ones, who will grow up to be our future leaders."

  To instill respect and appreciation for the environment, Malakoff donated a set of recycling bins to the school.

  This, it is hoped, would encourage the children to recycle and help them to understand the importance of recycling.

  The Pontian Fire and Rescue Department and  district  police traffic division were also involved in the programme.

  The officers from the two agencies played a role by educating the students on safety measures to be taken against fires and accidents.

  As one of Malakoff's adopted schools, SK Seri Sinaran Chokoh receives financial grants from the Malakoff  Education Fund.

  The fund was set up to  enabled the adopted schools to be better equipped with learning facilities to ensure academic excellence.

  SK Seri Sinaran Chokoh  headmistress Sapiah Sapati said Malakoff had been supportive of the school thanked the company for its generosity and active involvement with the students over the years.

  "Lessons on recycling as well as on fire and road safety are important and must be learnt from a young age. We are very grateful to Malakoff for providing our students with real-life experience to help them better understand what they learn in the classroom," she said.

  The Malakoff Community Partnerships celebrate the achievement of Malakoff's long-term and continuous commitment to being a responsible and active participant of the communities in which it operates.