KOTA MARUDU, Feb 10 (Bernama) — PETRONAS has launched its corporate social investment (CSI) programmes in Sabah that aim to help raise the standards of living among the communities in a number of rural areas as well as to support the development of Sabahan youths through sports on 9 February 2017.
These programmes comprise three new initiatives namely Planting Tomorrow, Food Basket, and Youth Development which will be carried out in collaboration with several partner organisations.
“The launch of these programmes in the face of challenges in the oil and gas industry signifies a strong social responsibility commitment from PETRONAS for the people of Sabah,” Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman said.
“Indeed, we welcome these initiatives by PETRONAS which I believe will go a long way in our effort to address poverty and raise the standards of living among the community,” he said in his speech during the launch of the programmes here.
PETRONAS will invest about RM18 million over the next four years to implement the three initiatives. Several more initiatives are in the pipeline including the construction of a MARA Junior Science College in Ranau and two rural hostels in selected schools, which will be launched later this year.
PETRONAS had invested a total of RM184.8 million between 2011 and 2016 to carry out numerous programmes, including RM83 million towards the conservation of Imbak Canyon in partnership with Yayasan Sabah. Other programmes include PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme, implementation of Trust Schools in Sabah, Program Sentuhan Ilmu PETRONAS, Program Sentuhan Kasih, as well as Vocational Institution Sponsorship & Training Assistance.
PETRONAS Chairman Tan Sri Sidek Hassan said although each of the programmes was designed to meet specific needs, they were envisioned with the same aspirations—to reach out to those in need and help them realise their dreams and potentials even if these were seemingly beyond their reach.
“Inspired by this, PETRONAS strives to implement effective and sustainable social programmes that bring the focus back to the needs of the community,” he said.
He added that the launch of today’s initiatives, particularly Planting Tomorrow and Food Basket, signifies the close collaboration involving PETRONAS, the Sabah State Government, and the Federal Government towards making the success of the National Blue Ocean Strategy mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.
Planting Tomorrow is a livelihood programme to be carried out in collaboration with Yayasan Sejahtera, a foundation set up to address extreme poverty in line with two National Key Result Areas, namely raising the living standards of low-income households, and improving basic rural infrastructure.
The programme involves the provision of an alternative water supply solution and agricultural training to 160 families in seven villages in Mukim Dandun in Pitas namely Dowokon, Bambangan Ulu, Maliau Layung, Maliau Pusat, Perupok, Pinapak and Nunguh; and three in Mukim Simpangan in Kota Marudu namely Patiu, Katud, and Pulutan.
Kampung Patiu is the first village to enjoy clean water with the installation of a gravity-fed water supply system in the village last month. Works are currently ongoing for the installation of a similar system in Kampung Katud and Kampung Pulutan, and in Mukim Dandun, providing access to clean water to over 1,000 people.
“We used to walk more than an hour, carrying water containers to collect water from the river. With this facility, clean water is now available just a few steps from our homes,” said Hamzah Haruna, 35, Chairman of Kampung Patiu Village Development and Security Committee.
PETRONAS is also carrying out the Planting Tomorrow programme in Kampung Imbak in Tongod, in collaboration with Yayasan Sabah. This includes the setting up of a homestay in Kampung Imbak, the gateway village to Imbak Canyon Conservation Area.
Under the Food Basket programme to be carried out in Lahad Datu, Tuaran, Beaufort, Kudat, and Kinabatangan, PETRONAS will collaborate with the Sabah State Health Department to provide highly nutritious food aid to address malnutrition among nearly 700 children aged six years and below in the areas to enable them to enjoy healthy growth.
The Youth Development programme, meanwhile, is designed to nurture a more holistic and healthy lifestyle among Sabahan youths aged between 13 and 17 years. The programme, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sabah will include the construction of a football field at Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kinabalu.