MELAKA: Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd (Edra), in collaboration with the Melaka government, has implemented a Back to School programme to provide school supplies for Orang Asli children and children from B40 households in the state.
A total of 1,000 children have benefited from the programme, receiving contributions of uniforms and schoolbags worth RM100,000 (RM100 per person). Beneficiaries comprised 423 Orang Asli children and 577 children from underprivileged families.
Edra vice-president II, group public affairs Jennifer Aleeya Wong, said the community development programme was a collaboration with the state government under the state Women, Welfare and Rural Development Committee chairman and Machap Jaya assemblyman Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin.
“This programme is aimed at helping reduce the burden on the families for the new school year. This cooperation is in line with the government’s main agenda to improve the level of education among indigenous children and B40 groups because we believe they have the potential to succeed in life and should not miss or drop out of school,” she said.
“The contribution of new uniforms and schoolbags will inspire young children to return to school and study harder.
“We hope that this contribution will raise awareness about the importance of early education in schools and also produce more skilled human capital among Orang Asli and B40 children, which will improve the country’s socio-economic development and the quality of life among these communities.”
Wong said Edra would continue to provide assistance in community development, especially in areas near its power stations nationwide.
Lim said the Melaka government welcomed cooperation from the private sector and non-governmental organisations, especially in education, to boost the socio-economic development of the people in the state.
“In Melaka, we have 14 indigenous villages and more than 400 are primary school pupils. Edra has contributed to the Orang Asli students, as well as students from the B40 community in the form of uniforms and schoolbags.
“This is in line with the concept of Shared Prosperity under the federal government, where we bring the people together so that the wealth of the nation can be shared with everyone.”
Lim said it was important that the minority and the disadvantaged were not left behind.
“We hope that these communities will benefit and also contribute to society. This is a good initiative by Edra, one of the leading companies in the economic development of our state.
“We also hope that the support given will enable the young from these communities to focus on their education so that they can have a bright future.”
Lim said the 14 indigenous villages were in the Alor Gajah and Jasin districts, and the majority of these were from the Temuan tribe, with a population of about 2,000.