By WU VUIDE
PENAMPANG: A total of 28 primary, secondary, and special education schools in the Penampang area have received assistance amounting to RM230,000 from Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR).
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick officiated the event at the SK St. Theresa Inobong School Hall here.
Ewon stated that out of the 28 schools, four were secondary schools and 24 were primary schools within the Penampang parliamentary constituency.
“Each secondary school received RM10,000, while primary schools received RM5,000.
“Meanwhile, two secondary schools and five primary schools that implement the Special Education Programme (PPKI) also received an additional RM10,000 each.
“This assistance reflects my commitment, as well as that of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), particularly Bank Rakyat and Yayasan Bank Rakyat, in advancing educational development programmes here,” he said.
Ewon, who is also the Member of Parliament for Penampang, said that this assistance programme was initiated in 2023 and has been implemented annually under the Look East Within the Nation Policy (KUSKOP Perspective).
“I hope this will support schools, teachers, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) in complementing the whole-of-government approach towards the development of the national education sector,” he added.
As the Member of Parliament for Penampang, he also approved an allocation of RM50,000 from the parliamentary constituency fund for SK St. Theresa Inobong to assist in procuring school facilities, as requested by the Parent-Teacher Association.
Also present were Kapayan State Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang, YBR Chairman Datuk Philip Lasimbang, Chairman of the Malaysian Plantation and Commodity Institute (IMPAC) Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin, President of the Penampang District Council Francis Chong, Penampang District Education Officer Rusmadi Ahmad, and YBR Chief Executive Officer Syaiful Rizal Abdul Ghani.
