I was on the way to Kota Kinabalu for a business meeting when I pass over a ceremony held at Berungis Petronas Gas Station on Thursday morning. First, I do not know what was the occasion going to be but when I receive a sms from a friend 30 minutes after I pass through the Petronas Gas Station telling that our Chief Minister will be launching something at the Berungis Petronas Gas Station. The owner of the Gas Station is Datuk Jahid Jahim. No need to discuss more about this person because everybody know about him. After my business meeting with a friend at Kota Kinabalu end, I rushed back to Tamparuli and stop at the gas station but the program already ended. I manage to chit chat with a friend working at the gas station and he told me from A to Z about the program. What a good news! Petronas are willing to help the poor people in Sabah. Sabah was rich with oil and gas but............... Petronas should do this charity program 10 years ago because of our Oil and Gas was the most expensive and more quality compare with other Oil and Gas produce by other country in the world. Thanks to Petronas and keep up the good work.. Continue reading below article....Some 1,200 underprivileged families in Sabah would be receiving aid under Petronas' Program Sentuh Harapan launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman in Berungis, here, Thursday.
Petronas' Senior General Manager of Group Corporate Affairs, Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah said these families were from Inanam, Donggongon, Penampang, Tuaran, Sipitang, Papar and Tamparuli.
He said the programme was initiated as part of the company's larger corporate social responsibility (CSR) to assist in the government's efforts in eradicating hardcore poverty in the country.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak initially launched the programme in Miri, Sarawak in July last year.
According to him, some 5,000 families throughout the country have been identified to participate in the programme.
"Even though the number may be small, Petronas is proud of the opportunity to improve the lives of people in Sabah who need help," he said at the launching of the programme by Musa.
Under the programme, he said hardcore poor families across Malaysia would be provided with a RM80 monthly food aid for a period of two years.
They would also be provided with supplementary courses to help them improve their monetary planning and management, he said.
The food aid, he said, could be redeemed by the recipients for essential food items at selected Petronas Kedai Mesra convenient stores using their MyKad.
In Sabah, the participating Kedai Mesra stores selected as distribution centres are in Donggongon (two stations), Inanam station, Bakut station, Papar station and Sipitang station.
"All selected Kedai Mesra have been equipped with an electronic system which provides an effective and efficient disbursement mechanism with audit trails to ensure the allocation reaches the identified families," he said.
The identified families, he said, were selected from the government's database with the assistance of the Welfare Department and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
He said Petronas is also working closely with MyKasih Foundation in implementing the programme.
He said the programme is not designed to be a short-term fix.
Mohammad said the recipients will be given training in basic financial literacy and skills to help them gain knowledge in areas related to family finances, ways to increase joint family income, promote learning culture among the children and youth as well as to encourage them to break away from the cycle of poverty.
Story Arrangement By: Harry George
Sources: Daily Express
Picture: Google Image
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