Wong (second right) presents a mock cheque for RM50,000 to Sarawak Heart Foundation deputy chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) has set aside RM1.39 million as financial contribution for a noble cause this year.

Its chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik said the allocation was meant for activities such as conservation efforts carried out by government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), environmental care, community services especially those living in the interior and in the vicinity of forest management units and facilitating the pursuit of education of the youth through the award of scholarships.

“STA Mutual Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of STA, has been involved in projects to improve the welfare of communities in Sarawak, irrespective of race and religion.

“We also make available scholarships and prizes to Malaysian universities, colleges and institutes that are producing graduates in skills relevant to forestry, forest plantation and timber industries, including providing financial contributions to private and/or independent Chinese Secondary Schools in Sarawak, rural schools through Sarawak Timber Industries Development Corporation (STIDC) and non-profit charitable organisations such as Yayasan LaSallian Kuching and Sarawak Heart Foundation,” he said.

His text of speech was read by the association’s honorary treasurer Philip Choo at the presentation of financial contributions and memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between STA and Daiken Corporation at Wisma STA here yesterday.

Wong announced a contribution of RM600,000 to Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Secondary School Management Board and 14 independent Chinese Secondary Schools in the state.

“It cannot be denied that these schools have made significant contribution towards education in Sarawak but we are given to understand that these schools are operating at a huge deficit annually and our hope is that this RM600,000 contribution will be able to alleviate the financial situation of these schools and enable them to continue to provide quality education to Sarawakians.”

Wong said because of its concern with the education development in the state especially in rural schools, this was the third year that the association had entrusted STIDC to administer the funds to raise education level in line with the national education policy to develop the potential of individuals through quality education.

“Besides, the association is also lending a helping hand to Yayasan LaSallian Kuching amounting RM15,000 to support their tuition programmes at centres in Kuching, Serian and Bau.”

He said from the total contribution yesterday RM50,000 was allocated to Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) for them to enhance and transform the city as the cleanest, most beautiful, safest and most talked about destination in Asia by 2017.

“Today, the association is also contributing RM50,000 for partial costs of setting up a minimally invasive heart surgery at Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre which costs approximately RM1.5 million and also to support various activities carried out by Sarawak Heart Foundation (SHF).”

He said as advised by Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem during STA’s Appreciation Dinner on May 28, the timber industry had and would take up its responsibility in training manpower, developing skills and conducting research.

He said in the area of research the association had signed an MoU with Unimas’ Faculty of Resource Science and Technology on Feb 21, 2013 and a RM400,000-fund for a three-year research project to produce better quality kelampayan for forest plantation.

“Besides, the association also provides RM190,000 over a period of three years for a research project to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to derive the working properties of Acacia Mangium timbers for better utilisation and value-adding of this resource. The Acacia Mangium project commenced in 2011,” said Wong.