18/7/2026

SATURDAY | JULY 18, 2026

COMMUNITY 7

Solar-powered lighting brightens school walkway

Ű P. CHANDRA SAGARAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

IPOH: As part of its community centred projects, the Lions Club of Perak Silver State (LCPSS) contributed six units of solar powered lights to brighten the walkway of Sekolah Rendah (SK) Raja Chulan to enhance safety of students and teachers. The ceremony to launch the initiative took place at the school on July 11 as a collaboration between the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA), LCPSS and Pantai Hospital Ipoh, in conjunction with Earth and Environment Day . Some 200 teachers, pupils and parents participated in the event, with Pantai Hospital Ipoh CEO Tan Kian Hin, PTA members, LCPSS members and several volunteers also in attendance. “The safety of the pupils and teachers is important as they arrive early in the morning and in darkness to the school,” said LCPSS environmental leader Dr Richard Ng. “Brightness will give them security and comfort to start their day at school without any worries. “There is no need to utilise electricity supply and at the same time, it reduces carbon foot print,” he added. Several activities were carried out at the school, including a talk on climate change and demonstrations on recycling and upcycling to reduce plastic pollution. The event also featured the launch of a community garden

o Initiative taken by Lions club to provide security and comfort for pupils and staff

known as Halaman Minda Sihat for special-ability pupils. A tree-planting ceremony was also held there. LCPSS contributed three tree saplings, namely Eugenia and Bucida (shade trees), 15 pots of vegetable plants such as eggplant, chilli, curry, pandan , galangal , ginger and tumeric, while Pantai Hospital Ipoh presented 100 reusable bags. Ng said the planting of trees should be encouraged as an approach to cool the surface of the Earth. “Pupils, parents and the community should reduce usage of plastics, that contribute to climate change, and instead utilise reusable bags,” he added. SK Raja Chulanhe headmaster Fadzir Shaharuddin thanked LCPSS and Pantai Hospital Ipoh for their contributions. “It will enhance security as well create awareness among the pupils on environmental sustainability,” he said.

Lions club members, students, staff and parents at the community garden in SK Raja Chulan.

Autism Cafe Project empowers special needs group

Ű BY JOSHUA CHANG newsdesk@thesundaily.com

titled “Cafe Helps Autistic Teens Become Independent” was held at the Kusabon Café in Beluran. The event featured a sharing session by Mohd Adli and a talk by the Social Welfare Department on the importance of the disabled person identity card, and a panel discussion with educators and parents. The next day, the main event at Space 45 in Sandakan drew 75 participants. Mohd Adli delivered his keynote address on the family’s decade-long journey, while Nozilan and Muhammad Luqman captivated the audience with live baking and bead making demonstrations, followed by another insightful panel discussion. A final meet-up with local entrepreneurs was held at Tadika Edukidz on July 12 to explore the challenges and opportunities for disabled people to venture into entrepreneurship.

founded by Mohd Adli Yahya and his wife Nozilan Mohamad for their non-verbal autistic son, Muhammad Luqman Shariff, 27. More than a café, it serves as a dedicated career-training platform for autistic youths. The tour began on July 10 with a courtesy visit to Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Anib 3, where the team met headmistress Hamida Sirip, and interacted with teachers and students in the Special Education Integration Programme . They later visited Tadika Edukidz, an inclusive kindergarten in Sandakan where special needs children learn alongside mainstream peers. The delegation met its founder Rachel Wong, and coincidentally connected with students from Taiwan’s Tzu Chi University and their associate professor Ya-li Cheng, who were there on a study visit. Later that afternoon a session

KOTA KINABALU: The Autism Cafe Project (ACP) organised a two-day tour themed “From Darkness to Purpose: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Autism“ to encourage entrepreneurship in Sandakan and Beluran. The OKU Entrepreneurship Tour was held to empower parents of special needs children with practical action plans while building marketable skills such as cooking, baking and handicraft making for autistic individuals to foster long-term independence. It was organised in collaboration with the Persatuan Anak-Anak Istimewa Sandakan, Creative Collaborative Workshop Edukidz and the Beluran Special Children’s Parents Association, ACP is a social enterprise

Berjaya Corporate Communications executive Aisyah Khumairah (2nd left) presenting the contribution to Abdullah. Cash aid for safer, more comfortable home for elderly

KAJANG: Corporation Berhad (BCorp) recently contributed RM50,000 to Pusat Jagaan Siti Nor Aini (PJSNA) to construct a proper living space to enhance the quality of care and wellbeing of current and future elderly residents, ensuring they can continue to live in comfort. Representatives from BCorp presented the contribution to PJSNA founder Dr Abdullah Noel Michael, in the presence of staff from the centre. “Seeing the dedication and care provided by the team at PJSNA reminds us of the importance of looking after our elderly community. “We hope this contribution will help make daily life a little more comfortable and provide the residents with a place they can truly call home,” said BCorp Corporate Communications general manager Giam Say Khoon. Established in 2008, PJSNA Berjaya

provides shelter and care to elderly individuals who have no family members or caregivers to look after them. For many residents, the centre is more than a place of care. It is a home where they are treated with respect and kindness. “Every contribution makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents. We are deeply grateful to Berjaya Corporation Berhad for their generous support, which will help create a safer and more comfortable environment for the elderly under our care, allowing them to age with dignity, comfort and peace of mind,” said Abdullah. Through the contribution, BCorp continues to support initiatives that impact on the lives of those in need, while working alongside charitable organisations to create a meaningful moment and lasting impact on underprivileged communities.

The participants with educators and children during the tour.