KOTA PADAWAN: The hardships of life as a child and while in school after the death of his father when he was a baby became a strong impetus for Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Willie Mongin to make seven needy students at the Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan (SMK) Padawan his adopted children.
The seven students are from Kampung Sebakar, Kampung Kiding and Kampung Sadir in Padawan. They are from underprivileged, single-parented households.
The writer came across the Puncak Borneo MP (Willie) when he brought along one of the students, Olivia to an optical shop at Siburan town yesterday and bought her schooling needs.
Willie said he had committed to funding the schooling of the seven students since 2017.
Initially, he took two of the students as his adopted children before he became the MP for Puncak Borneo, then took five more when he was elected as MP.
Two of the seven students have already finished schooling and are now working temporarily while the other five are still in school.
“Every month since 2017, I have given them financial aid for school expenses in addition to paying their school fees and buying their school needs including school uniforms, workbooks, exercise books and stationery.
“In addition, I also went to see them say hello, ask about their problems as well as give advice and encouragement so that they are focused and serious about their studies.
“I am committed to funding their schooling needs up to form five and if they get a place to study at an institution of higher learning, I will continue to help them,” Willie added.
He said some of the students he identified when he held a walkabout to the villages in his constituency and also by the then principal of SMK Padawan Roger Peter, who then brought their fate to his knowledge to apply for help to finance their schooling.
Asked why he was so committed to helping the seven students, Willie said: “The reason is I don’t want any child population in the Puncak Borneo area to be left behind in terms of formal education.
“I also think it is the responsibility of each of us who can help so that none of our Bidayuh children is left behind in terms of education due to poverty,” he added.
In addition to adopting poor students, Willie has also provided financial incentives to outstanding students as well as financial assistance to thousands of students from Puncak Borneo who are pursuing their studies at universities and other higher education institutions.
He said diploma course students were given one-off assistance of RM300, while degree course students were given one-off assistance of RM500, and added that such assistance would continue.
In this regard, he advised and called on parents and students in the Puncak Borneo constituency who are poor and need educational assistance to come and meet him.
Apart from that, he said any student in Puncak Borneo constituency who received an offer to further his studies at a university should come to his service centre to apply for one-off education assistance.
