Pahang NGO chips in with school supplies: 58pc of Stella Maris students comprise Muslims
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025
Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025
By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Dennison and Zamri handing out the school supplies. Kota Kinabalu: Some 340 students from the B40 group at Stella Maris Tanjung Aru received school supplies, recently, thanks to a corporate social responsibility initiative by Yayasan Kosma in collaboration with Persatuan Keusahawanan Cekap Sabah (PKCS). The contribution included school bags, exercise books, stationery and lunch boxes aimed at easing the burden of low-income families.
Advertisement Yayasan Kosma Chairman, Dato' Zamri Mohamed, expressed his appreciation for the unity displayed at the event, which took place on the grounds of a church. 'This programme is a wonderful initiative. I witnessed strong unity and harmony among those involved, regardless of race or religion,' said Zamri. 'I was surprised to learn that 58pc of students here at Stella Maris are from Muslim families.' 'This shows we can share a meal together without politics, only unity. I'm very pleased with what we're doing here in Sabah. 'For Yayasan Kosma, our goal is to help everyone. There are no divisions between people and today, we are doing this at a church, no less,' he said.
Advertisement Zamri also noted that although Kosma is based in Pahang, the foundation is committed to fulfilling the wider mission of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) by helping communities across Malaysia. 'Kosma allocates approximately RM5 million annually to support initiatives like these throughout the country, using funds derived from tax contributions. 'LHDN cannot meet every request alone, they get thousands of requests daily and that's why they work with foundations like ours. We aim to ensure states like Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis and Johor all receive equal attention,' he added. Zamri also commended the leadership of the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, for his hands-on approach and visible impact in empowering cooperatives and community initiatives nationwide. PKCS Chairman, Dennison Indang, highlighted the unique challenges of poverty in urban areas like Tanjung Aru, where he said the B40 rate is high compared to others. 'In Pulau Gaya, for instance, over 95pc of households are in the B40 category. Urban poverty is more complex and persistent. Education is the most effective tool we have to end this cycle. 'When families struggle financially, dropout rates increase. Our goal is to break that cycle and motivate students. 'I myself am a product of such initiatives. I know how impactful they can be,' he explained. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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