HOTAYI Electronic (M) Sdn Bhd has stepped forward to support the ‘E-Learning Computer Program’, an initiative introduced by the state government about two months ago.
The company, which had contributed RM200,000 to the Penang government’s Covid-19 Fund and five units of vital sign monitors to Penang Hospital recently, donated eight units of fully functional and used laptops for the computer programme today.
Its managing director Goh Guek Eng, who presented the laptops to state executive councillor Chong Eng, said her company was pleased with the effort by the state to help students in dire need of assistance.
“The state has been fulfilling its responsibility towards the society and prioritising the education needs,” Goh said in her speech.
“Hotayi believes this contribution will inspire and benefit the students.”
Chong Eng, who is in charge of the state Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Religions other than Islam, thanked Hotayi for its sponsorship and expressed hopes that more companies would join in the programme.
She said 346 out of the 1,109 applicants have been shortlisted so far.
“The state gives priority to those in upper forms, such as students in Form Five and Form Six followed by those in lower forms,” Chong Eng told a press conference in Komtar.
“At first, the schools identified the students in need of assistance and then passed us the list of eligible students.
“The state then decided the group of students to be given priority. No student will be left behind as the state strives to help the needy ones.”
Chong Eng said they have over 100 new computers that are being given out to students on a six-month loan period while 126 secondhand computers that had been refurbished are in the process of being given out free to other students.
Also present at the press conference were Wong Kim Fei, who is the assistant to Hotayi chairman Datuk Lee Hung Lung, and Swisspac Resources Sdn Bhd general manager Ryan Lim.
The ‘E-Learning Computer Program’, which was launched by the state government on May 21, is to assist needy students who do not have computers so that they can take part in e-learning during the movement control order.
Several companies which have also sponsored laptops and accessories include Macrovention Sdn Bhd, Phidisk, Ibiden Electronics Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Bizcode Asia Sdn Bhd and SNS Network (M) Sdn Bhd.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan