Lee (second right) unveils the SMK Merbau Food Bank signage during the launch ceremony, as Chong (right) and others look on.
MIRI (June 27): No student should have to attend school on an empty stomach, said Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
Speaking at the launching of the SMK Merbau Food Bank and the presentation of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) excellence incentive awards on Thursday, Lee described the initiative as the first school-based food bank in his constituency.
He said the food bank was established to provide meals for students from underprivileged families so they can focus on their studies without worrying about food.
“Some students come to school without having breakfast or enough to eat. We want to ensure they have access to food so they have the energy to learn,” he said.
The Senadin assemblyman added that if the initiative proves successful, its effectiveness would be evaluated with a view to expanding the programme to other schools.
In addition to the education excellence incentives and an allocation of RM10,000 for the food bank, Lee also announced RM15,000 for school development, RM72,000 for the second phase of the school’s Smart Classroom initiative, and school kits for Form Six Semester 2 students.
The annual excellence incentive programme, which has been sponsored by Lee since 2023, has encouraged more students to excel in the SPM and STPM examinations.
Lee noted that the number of recipients has increased each year, with 114 SPM students and 62 STPM students qualifying for the awards this year.
“I did not expect the number of recipients to grow every year. It shows that the incentive has motivated students to work harder and achieve better academic results, which is exactly what I hoped for,” he said.
Lee said the programme would continue to encourage students to pursue higher education and contribute to Sarawak’s future development.
He also urged students to take advantage of the Sarawak government’s free tertiary education initiative, which enables eligible Sarawakian students to pursue selected programmes at state-owned universities.
“As Sarawak continues to develop, we need more skilled manpower, especially in green energy, information technology, engineering and other technical fields.
“These are the areas where future job opportunities will continue to grow,” he said.
Also present were SMK Merbau principal Amanda Chong and Parent-Teacher Association chairman Julaihie Rosli.
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