Early school uniform aid for 704 needy students

Koay (standing left in blue batik), while seated (from left) are Doraisamy, Mary, Mohd Rizal, Tan and Azhar posing for a group photo with the students, parents and school representatives during the school uniform aid presentation at Bukit Mertajam High School.

SEVEN-HUNDRED and four recipients, including 200 secondary school students, received school uniforms from the Tun Sardon Foundation held at Bukit Mertajam High School.

Foundation secretary Andrew Koay said the school uniforms were worth a total of RM40,000.

Its students study grant sub-committee chairman Datuk Tan Gin Soon said the ceremony marked another milestone in the history of the Tun Sardon Foundation, especially for deserving students.

“This is made possible due to former Penang Governor Tun Sardon’s deep concern for the poor and needy.

“It was due to the cooperation and assistance from a group of prominent businessmen and community leaders in the state that the foundation was established and incorporated on June 13,1978, to carry out charity work, ” he said.

Tan said initially the foundation gave relief and assistance to the poor and needy, particularly widows, orphans, victims of fire, flood, famine or other disasters.

“We are grateful to the late Tun Sardon, who had played a significant role in guiding this foundation to become what it is today.”

Through the years, Tan added that the foundation was led by Datuk Yeap Hock Hoe, Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir, Yeop Abdul Raof and now Datuk Mohd Rizal Al-Amin Tun Sardon as chairman since 2005.

“Since its establishment, the foundation has paid out RM2.65mil in the form of donations to charitable organisations, relief funds, study awards and educational grants to primary and secondary school students.”

Also present were Mohd Rizal, board member Datuk Mary Ritchie, the high school’s task force advisor Datuk G.P. Doraisamy and senior assistant Azhar Amanullah Ariffin.