One hundred and thirteen poor students of all races received gifts in the form of shoes and school uniforms from the wife of the Menteri Besar, Datin Seri DiRaja Saripah Zulkifli recently. The simple presentation ceremony was held at the Aeon Shopping Complex (formerly Jusco) in Kinta City.
The gift package, worth RM150 each, is part of Yayasan Bina Upaya Darul Ridzuan’s (YBU) programme for the poor and the marginalised in Perak. The students, picked on the basis of their academic achievements, have been “adopted” by the Menteri Besar. They stand to benefit from the programme by way of financial support from the state government.
Besides shoes and uniforms they are also provided financial assistance amounting to RM50 a month. “An accumulated sum of RM150 is credited into their bank account every three months,” said Hairul Anwar Mohamad Noor, YBU’s chief financial officer to Ipoh Echo.
Norikramuddin Mohd Najib, 14, a Form Two student was beaming with joy when met. “It’s a good start for my school year. The new uniforms and shoes are a motivating factor for me to do well in my studies,” she said. Nori aspires to be a teacher and promises not to let her “adopted” parents down.
