The start of the 2021 school year is like no other with
Malaysia in a State of Emergency, to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Our nation is
striking a delicate balance between protecting the well-being of the population
whilst ensuring that the next generation receives the best education possible
despite the economic impact the pandemic has had on communities such as the
Orang Asli.
Orang Asli population have been among the hardest hit
economically, and the recent floods in Johor, Pahang and Perak have further
disrupted incomes while the fear of their children possibly contracting
Covid-19 weighs on them. Despite these setbacks, Orang Asli families are eager
for their children to continue schooling for a better future.
TOP, the Putra Brand Award 2019 Platinum winner for the
household product category, ‘Brighter Future with TOP’ charity fund-raising
campaign, supported by TESCO and JAKOA arrived right on time to empower 420
Orang Asli students from six schools in Pahang, Perak and Johor with
back-to-school essentials including two reusable face masks per child for
Covid-19 protection, and TOP powder detergent to hygienically launder their
uniforms in the 2021 school year. The funds collected exceeded expectation
equipping an additional 60 students from the initial target of 360 students.
Southern Lion Sdn Bhd, Marketing Manager (Fabric Care
Division) Ms Ling Ai Li thanked TESCO, JAKOA and the brand’s customers for
supporting a brighter future for Orang Asli children even in these difficult
times. Good Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
“Based on consumer spending trends we estimated a much
lower fund collection, but TOP customers shopping at Tesco stepped up to
support the campaign because Orang Asli education and well-being is an
important cause for them as it is for us. We are elated by the caring and
kindness of TOP customers. While our team did not visit the Orang Asli schools this
year for everyone’s well-being our goal was to equip the students for the
academic year, and to help them stay protected against Covid-19. The
JAKOA team efficiently provided on-ground information, and the logistics
support to get essentials to these isolated communities. Our thanks to everyone
including the respective state education departments, teachers and Orang Asli
village chiefs. Four hundred and twenty Orang Asli children have a brighter
future thanks to you!” Ms Ling explains.
Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Head of Communications
and Corporate Social Responsibility, Ms Hanim Hamdan said that the leading
retailer fully supported the campaigns goals and choose to add value by
contributing water bottles and food containers to help Orang Asli students
comply with Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) of physical
distancing.
The goals of the Cerahi Kehidupan Bersama TOP campaign
resonate with TESCO value of Every Little Help Makes a Big Difference. We are
proud to be TOP’s retail partner for this campaign for the second consecutive
year because the campaign is making a positive difference in underserved
communities such as this. Our team chose to gift reusable water bottles for
students to stay hydrated, and food containers for them to bring meals from
home so they can ensure to continue physical distancing and to maintain the
best hygiene by handling their own food, while the threat of Covid-19 is still
at large. Our hope is that all of us can stay safe by following the SOPs during
this time,” says Ms Hanim.
The Orang Asli primary schools receiving back-to-school
essentials include SK Kampung Kudong a high-achieving Orang Asli school in a
forest reserve in Bekok Johor, SK Pos Dipang in Jeram, Perak that has shown
exceptional spirit in rebuilding from landslides, floods and other tragedies,
and the isolated SK Terisu, in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. Orang Asli students
from SK Kenering, SK Pahit and SK Batu 4 in Perak were also recipients.
Despite restrictions on interstate travel and flooding in
some areas, the JAKOA’s team arranged and delivered 150 cartons of
back-to-school essentials of new uniforms, shoes, socks, school bags,
stationery sets, pencil cases, colour pencils, exercise books, water bottles,
food containers, two pieces of reusable face masks and a 750gm pack of TOP
Super Hygienic Powder Detergent for each child, as well as art supplies and
ukuleles for the school. The contribution serves to protect the children from
the Covid-19 virus, motivate them to attend school and ease some of their
parents’ financial burdens.
JAKOA Director General, Prof Juli Edo praised TOP, TESCO,
the JAKOA team, teachers and the public who have contributed generously to the
campaign.
“Many Orang Asli communities are economically fragile. The
Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted their livelihood, and the recent floods
have been a setback for some villages that were beginning to recover. The
Cerahi Kehidupan Bersama TOP back to school campaign is timely because it eases
the strained finances of parents, motivates and equips children to head back to
schools, and through the contribution of the reusable face masks gives them
protection against the Covid-19 virus. This year’s campaign shows a lot of
thoughtfulness towards the Orang Asli communities with important adds-on to
help them stay protected, including the contribution of TOP Super
Hygienic powder detergent for each students, and an unexpected but very welcome
one kilogram of TOP powder detergent each for approximately 3,000
villagers. The kindness of so many Malaysians, and of TOP and Tesco will be
remembered,” Prof Juli Edo says.
The JAKOA logistic team aided delivery of more than 200
cartons of TOP powder detergent has positively uplifted hundreds of Orang Asli
families by easing their finances, providing motivation for children to stay in
school.
Developed by Lion Corporation, Japan, TOP is known for
championing the concept of hygienically clean living to encourage cleaner
laundry, more comfort and a better sense of well-being through its continuous
breakthrough innovations. It is famed for its Micro-Clean Tech that effectively
removes both visible and invisible stains, so laundry is hygienically
clean.
TOP contributed its TOP Super Hygienic detergent to each
student, and to about 3,000 villagers to equip them with a high-performance
detergent to hygienically and thoroughly clean their laundry including school
uniforms and cloth face masks.
“TOP Super Hygienic Powder detergent and TOP Odour Buster
Liquid Detergent are especially suitable during the pandemic as the enhanced
antibacterial formulation eliminates 99.9% of bacteria* for maximum protection
and has high performance anti-sweat odour to remove sweat smells from heavily
soiled clothes and deodorize fabric for a refreshingly clean scent,” adds Ms
Ling.
The campaign has been held for six years consecutively to
motivate students from underserved communities and B40 households to achieve
more by boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem; and to educate them on
caring for their clothing so that they are clean, and hygienically laundered.
It has now benefited almost 2,900 school children aged between 7 to 17 years
from 85 communities in need including Orang Asli, and NGOs serving orphans and
children from single parent households.
Tok Batin Ahmad bin Nanggong of Kampung Orang Asli Sg.
Getan, Pos Terisu, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, said the community was overjoyed
by the assistance as many of them are experiencing strained finances and
worries regarding their children’s safety as they return to school.
“Thank you to TOP, Tesco, JAKOA and all who remembered
us. This assistance has lifted a heavy burden from us. Many families in our
village cannot afford to buy masks for our children, but we still want them to
get a good education so they can succeed. The children are so excited and happy
to be fully equipped as they head back to school, and parents have the ease of
mind in knowing that the masks can protect them. The TOP powder detergent is
much appreciated! This is the #KitaJagaKita spirit in practice!” explains
Ahmad.
Interested to find out more about TOP,
Website : http://www.southernlion.com.my
Customer care line : 1800-88-0133
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