Penang DCM I Officiates S P Setia Foundation Sincerely, Setia Unity In Diversity: Stem Fun Learning Programme
BERTAM, PENANG – The Sincerely, Setia Unity in Diversity (Penang Edition): Setia Caring School Programme (SCSP) Schools Outing – STEM Fun Learning with The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) programme, organised by S P Setia Foundation in collaboration with IEM, was officiated by the Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Y.B. Dr. Mohamad Abdul Hamid in October.
The programme, which took place at Minggu Saham Amanah Malaysia (MSAM) 2023 at Setia Fontaines, Bertam, Penang, is a continuation of Setia Foundation’s signature programme, Sincerely, Setia Unity in Diversity Programme which has been conducted in Klang Valley and Sabah since November 2022.
Hosted for the first time in Penang, this programme is also attended by other distinguished guests namely Y.M. Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn, President and Group CEO of Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Tengku Dato’ Ab. Aziz Tengku Mahmud, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of S P Setia Berhad, Dato’ Azmi Mohd Ali, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of S P Setia Berhad, Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani, Interim Chairman of S P Setia Foundation, Dato’ Tengku Marina Tunku Annuar, Independent Non-Executive Director of S P Setia Berhad, Ir. Chan Wah Cheong, Chairman of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Penang Branch, Tuan Haji Abdul Rashid bin Abdul Samad Director of Penang State Education Department, and the top management of S P Setia Berhad.
Datuk Yuslina Mohd Yunus, Management Committee of S P Setia Foundation and Senior Executive Vice President of S P Setia Berhad also handed over refurbished laptops to the SCSP schools.
Once again, the foundation has teamed up with The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) in providing disadvantaged students engaging STEM workshops and talks, in line with the edutainment concept of MSAM 2023 which integrates the elements of STEM, which are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Tan Sri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani, Interim Chairman of S P Setia Foundation expresses that the collaboration with IEM is initiated in March 2023 for a community engagement program with the Orang Asli community in Dengkil, Selangor. Subsequently, in July 2023, a similar program was conducted in Papar, Sabah.
“We are delighted to host the IEM team from Penang, who generously imparted their knowledge, experiences, and, most importantly, provided practical STEM education to all the students.” 20 students from schools under the Setia Caring School Programme (SCSP), including SK Batu Feringghi and SJK(T) Tasek Permai, were actively involved in interactive STEM workshops led by IEM Penang volunteers.
During these workshops, the students gained knowledge about fundamental engineering concepts and were able to construct miniature structures, including a hydraulic bulldozer, hand-cranked electric generator, and more.
The students also received activity books titled “Our Malaysia: Multi-Cultural Activity Book for Young Malaysians,” which explore the diversity of Malaysian cultures. Tengku Marina Tunku Annuar, Independent Non-Executive Director of S P Setia Berhad reaffirms the foundation’s commitment to foster unity through education, stating, “In a world where differences divide, we want to help build unity in diversity, hence we strive to create platforms where students can come together as one regardless of race, ethnicity and religion, as we believe that unity is our fundamental strength as a nation.”
In addition to the STEM workshop, the programme featured a laptop handover ceremony to the SCSP schools. This ceremony was presided over by Datuk Yuslina Mohd Yunus, Management Committee of S P Setia Foundation and Senior Executive Vice President of S P Setia Berhad.
Emphasising the foundation’s objective and commitment to offering educational support to underprivileged students, Datuk Yuslina noted, “To bridge the gap of learning inequality and keep up with e-learning trend, we contributed refurbished laptops to the SCSP schools, enabling underprivileged students to access digital devices for online learning.”
“This initiative is just a beginning, we look forward to more hosting more programmes to help the students in need across Malaysia,” said Adelene Wong, Management Committee of S P Setia Foundation and Head of Group Branding & Communications of S P Setia Berhad. The programme supports the the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which are Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), aligning with the second, third, and fourth trust objects of the S P Setia Foundation, which focus on aiding underprivileged Malaysians, advancing the education of disadvantaged students and fostering unity among youth.
The ‘Setia Caring School Programme’ is a meaningful initiative by Setia Foundation since 2015, which aims to assist in the advancement of education, whether in the form of financial support, in-kind donations, or the sharing of knowledge, for underserved school children in its adopted schools across Klang Valley, Penang, and Johor.
This program also provides a platform for students of diverse backgrounds to come together beyond the classroom settings, thereby enhancing sense of unity among the school children.
