Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Ian Kerr handing over cash donations to Pemanca Wilson Siang Lim as Barry and Beena look on
Miri – 3 June 2011 – Students and staff of the School of Foundation and Continuing Studies at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) went on a donation drive from 23 to 27 May 2011 in aid of the 18 families who lost their homes in a fire at Pujut Corner on 18 May.
“The response from our students and staff was overwhelming. In addition to RM715 in cash, they also donated used clothes, bags of rice, crockery and cutlery,” said the Dean of the School of Foundation Studies, Beena Giridharan, following the handover of the items to the Miri City Caring Society (MCCS), which is coordinating the relief and rehabilitation of the fire victims.
Beena added that the drive was part of the school’s community outreach programme (OUTReach). She also said she hoped that the donations would bring cheer to the manly Iban fire victims and allow them to have a decent Gawai celebration despite being housed in temporary shelters near their former homes while efforts are being made to have them re-settled.
Handing over the donations to MCCS chairman Pemanca Wilson Siang Lim at the Curtin Sarawak campus last Wednesday along with Beena was Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Kerr and Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Alistair Inglis.
Also present were MCCS committee member Penghulu Randi Elon and assistant treasurer Lilyian Simon, and Barry Lian Igan, coordinator of the OUTReach programme.
Following the handover, the MCCS immediately presented the donations to the fire victims.
For further information on Curtin Sarawak and the OUTReach programme, visit the university’s website at www.curtin.edu.my.
(L-R) Barry Lian Igan, Prof. Inglis, Prof. Kerr, Pemancha Wilson, Beena Giridharan, Lilyian Simon and Penghulu Randi
