1MDB aid for communities in remote areas of Sarawak

1MDB contributed RM972,900 to improve access to education for underprivileged schoolchildren in the remote areas of Sarawak. Nine rumah araus will be constructed throughout the states, totalling RM900,000, while the remaining RM72,900 was presented to underpriviledged children in the form of schooling aid.

Seven schools in Kapit and one each in Belaga and Lubok Antu will benefit from the new rumah araus to be constructed by 1MDB.

A total of 150 students consisting of 114 primary and 36 secondary schoolchildren from the Sungei Asap area received the aid from Datuk Sri Najib, who is also Chairman of 1MDB Board of Advisors.  The primary pupils received RM450 each, while the secondary students received RM600. 

This is the third batch of schoolchildren to benefit from 1MDB’s CSR programme in partnership with  the Sarawak Education Department, targeting schoolchildren who are at a disadvantage when seeking education aid.

Since February last year, 1MDB has distributed over RM450,000 for the construction of four rumah araus and financial aid for 120 schoolchildren.

The first batch of 20 underprivileged students from the Kanowit area received the schooling aid from the Prime Minister in February last year. This was followed in July by a second batch of 100 children from the Long Banga and Bekenu areas.

Construction of the first four rumah araus for Sekolah Kebangsaan Nanga Encheremin, Kapit; Sekolah Kebangsaan Lusong Laku, Belaga; Sekolah Kebangsaan Tegageng in Subis and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Kebulu in Sebauh, have been completed by December last year. 

A rumah arau is a halfway house located near a school where mothers and their pre-school children who live too far for a daily commute can seek temporary shelter during the school week.  Pre-schoolers are not eligible to stay at school hostels as they are considered too young to independently take care for themselves.