SHAH ALAM: The spirit of Chinese New Year came a-calling for 419 students from four schools, who received timely 'ang pows'.
The pupils were victims of December's monsoon flash-floods that inundated the Klang Valley and east coast peninsula states.
Each of them received RM100 cash, books and stationery from Yayasan Hasanah through collaboration with the Organisation of Graduates of Educational Institutions Malaysia (Haluan), in two separate locations.
Haluan president Dr Abdullah Sudin Abdul Rahman officiated at both events, separately.
Also present were Haluan vice-presidents (welfare and humanitarian cluster) Dr Baharuddin Suri and (women and family development cluster) Dr Zurina Muda, its north-east monsoon floods operations director Mohd Jamil Muda and its Pahang adviser Mohd Ghani Salleh.
"The first event held at Sekolah Menengah Ibn Khaldun in Shah Alam saw pupils of three schools - Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Kebun, Sekolah Menengah Ibn Khaldun and Sekolah Rendah Islam Ibnu Khaldun - being the beneficiaries.
"The second event was held for pupils from Sekolah Rendah Ibnu Abbas at their school in Kuantan, Pahang," said Abdullah Sudin.
Sekolah Menengah Ibn Khaldun was represented by headmistress Wan Halimah Ismail, Sekolah Rendah Ibn Khaldun by its headmaster Abdul Halim Jayalani, while Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Kebun by its senior assistant Hairani Samsudin and its students welfare secretary Siti Marzanah Mohd Tawil.
Sekolah Rendah Ibnu Abbas headmaster Ustaz Mohammed Suffian Abdul Aziz represented his school.
Abdullah Sudin expressed his gratitude to donors who entrusted Haluan to distribute the goodies to the flood victims.
"We are also grateful to Yayasan Hasanah for catering towards the schoolchildren whose studies were disrupted by the floods.
"The foundation also aided in contributing flood relief equipment," said Abdullah Sudin.
He urged the students to adhere to the credible teachings of the Quran that encouraged people to assist the needy and avert animosity and committing sins.
"Prophet Muhammad also advised us to be useful to fellow human beings.
"I urge you, students, to become model citizens who can contribute positively towards the well-being of your parents, society and the nation at large," said Abdullah Sudin.
He added that Haluan would also undertake repair works at the low-cost public housing in Bukit Rangin, Kuantan that was damaged by floods.
"Priority will be given to homes owned by single mothers, the aged and poor," he said.
Meanwhile, Jamil said that Haluan was now preparing for an assistance campaign during winter to travel to Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Afghanistan.
"Our team of volunteers will be mobilised to send relief materials to the less fortunate in those countries, by the middle of this month," said Jamil.
Haluan, he added, had been actively assisting the underprivileged in recent years.
Last week, Haluan teamed up with Nama Foundation to successfully conduct a 'Rohingya Community Educare Centre (RCEC)-Haluan Teacher's Training Programme'.
The three-day programme, themed 'One Thousand Steps to IGCSE Starts Today', was conducted at the Ash-Shura Institute of Quranic Sciences in Shah Alam.
Thirteen teachers, from three RCEC facilities in Seri Kembangan, Alor Star and Kuala Terengganu, graduated from the programme that was funded by Nama Foundation chief executive officer Dr Saleh Mubarak Bazead.
"Of the current 180,440 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, 155,400 were from Myanmar with 103,380 of them being ethnic Rohingya.
"More than 23,000 are school-going children who need basic education for their future life.
"Unfortunately, only around 30 per cent of them are enrolled in community learning centres throughout the country, with a much lower percentage pursuing secondary education," Jamil said.
He added that Haluan and other NGOs sought help and advice from UNCHR to establish education programmes for the unfortunate refugee children from countries like Palestine, Syria and Myanmar.
Last month, Haluan also presented a cash aid of RM100 to 78 flood victim pupils from two schools - Sekolah Kebangsaan Dusun Nanding dan Sekolah Kebangsaan Dusun Tua in Hulu Langat, Selangor.
Following the floods on Dec 20, a total of 1,560 of Haluan's volunteers nationwide were mobilised to several areas, especially at Sri Muda and Hulu Langat in Selangor, and Temerloh in Pahang, to assist the victims.
"Haluan initially provided ready-to-eat meals, helped in cleaning their homes and provided items for sleeping, kitchen utensils and dry rations," said Jamil.
Haluan is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in 1988.
It initially focused upon charitable efforts for the benefit of members through family nurturing programmes and counselling.
Since 2002, Haluan's membership and organisational growth brought it to a new social horizon, encouraging participation in efforts to eradicate social ills and develop a sustainable community, from assisting the neediest and disadvantaged locals to sending international disaster relief missions.
Haluan has now grown with 14 national branches. There are also offices in Cambodia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Kingdom, mainly to support programmes for Malaysian students and expatriates.
Haluan's international educational programmes, charity and relief missions have taken it to 20 countries as far as Turkey and China, thanks to its ever-expanding local and international partnerships.