GEORGE TOWN – Despite the absence this year of Chinese New Year open houses and the dishing out of ang pows, Penang assemblymen made sure the needy had something to cheer about.
Some reps channelled their savings into buying laptops and tablets, conducting virtual classes, topping up monthly mobile data, and providing breakfast for students from B40 families.
Since the second movement control order was imposed, there has been an acute shortage of smart devices, as well as spotty internet connection.
Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik has provided 115 laptops and 20 tablets to students in his constituency.
“We initially started the programme for students from B40 families with the help of Yayasan Hasanah, a non-governmental organisation, to help children in rural areas.
“We have provided breakfast for 100 children from B40 families, and handed out nutritious food to students in Year 4 and Year 6.
“We have volunteers to oversee the students, and have identified slow learners and children with speech problems to find ways to help them.”
He said the main goal is to get these students to read, so that they are not left behind in their studies.
Under the Kita Belajar programme, he said, students get help printing out their homework, are given virtual tuition classes, and receive a monthly top-up for their mobile data.
He has started raising funds for the programme, totalling RM80,000 so far. The target is to collect RM500,000 by June.
The money will go towards paying for online tuition classes for the English, mathematics and science subjects.
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim said he presented 100 laptops and 20 tablets before and after the CNY celebrations, under his five-initiative programme.
The Asal Cek Mau Pi Sekolah programme assists poor students in his constituency.
He also plans to run virtual tuition classes for Year 4, Form 1 and Form 4 students starting this month, and has adopted 10 students under the Anak Angkat programme, where they get RM100 a month until December to subsidise their daily expenses.
“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is our duty to see to it that the education of needy students is not affected, since many of them cannot afford to buy a laptop or tablet.
“We have also raised funds to help poor students. We have to ensure that the funds can fulfil their needs to complete their studies.”
Sim said his service centre has distributed food, goods and meals worth RM216,340 to more than 20,000 people during the virus lockdown. – The Vibes, February 17, 2021
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