KUCHING: The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, hosted 30 residents from Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching to a special Christmas treat at the Grand Margherita here yesterday.
Earlier, the residents were taken for a stroll across the newly-opened Darul Hana Bridge from Pangkalan Sapi’s side for an hour of outdoor fun. They had their pictures taken at the iconic bridge with their escorts and members of SEDC, Sara Urusharta Sdn Bhd and Ernst & Young (EY) Sarawak. They then headed back to the hotel at around 10.45am.
The Chairman of SEDC, Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Haji Abdul Aziz bin Dato Haji Husain in his speech said that the ‘Majlis Belaian Kasih Bersama Penghuni Rumah Seri Kenangan’ was among the initiatives implemented under SEDC’s CSR.
“This programme has been carried out by SEDC since 2011 and this is the seventh year we’re treating the residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan to an occasion like this,” he said.
According to Aziz, SEDC really cared about issues related to the welfare of the elderly at which the programme was one of their efforts to give back to the community that needed assistance such as the residents of Rumah Seri kenangan.
“This is our way of giving back to the community,” he said.
As a corporation and government agency that is responsible in moving and driving the development of Sarawak, Aziz added that SEDC practises a high sense of responsibility and caring culture in order to improve the well-being of the local community of various races in the state.
Other than lightening the burden of the less fortunate, the programme also aimed to share the joy with the residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan through the preparations to celebrate Christmas as well as to welcome the New Year.
Out of the 71 residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan, only 30 of them were able to be present yesterday as they were accompanied by 10 escorts.
Christmas goodie bags comprised of daily necessities such as toiletries, wholemeal biscuits, watches, radio, shoes and red packets (angpows) were presented to the elderly folks courtesy of SEDC and Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn Bhd.
Their gifts were presented based on their wish lists and there were some who requested for televisions and Video Compact Disc (VCD) players.
They were later treated to a scrumptious Christmas Brunch specially prepared by the Grand Margherita Hotel. The inmates of Rumah Seri Kenangan were delighted when the staff of SEDC came calling with some fun-filled singing performance.
The Corporation has had a very fulfilling year organising a series of community-centred CSR initiatives. Among them were the Majlis Berbuka Puasa PERYATIM, Majlis Ramah SEDC Bersama 5 Buah Sekolah Rendah Daerah Kuching, clean-up project (Gotong- Royong SEDC) in Kampung Santubong and monetary contributions to the needy.
Also present at the programme were Haji Soedirman Haji Aini (General Manager of SEDC), Hajah Rakayah Hamdan (Deputy General Manager, Corporate Services Sector and Director of Corporate Finance Division of SEDC), Edwin Abit, (Deputy General Manager, Commercial Sector and Director of Tourism & Hospitality Division, Corporate Relations and Communications Division) and Teo Khang Min (Director of Ernst & Young (EY) Sarawak).
