When OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad’s Batu Pahat Branch Senior Manager Ms Yap Ley Lin took one look at the gates, fencing and walls of SJK(C) Chong Hwa Sungai Ayam – a rural school in a fishing village on the outskirts of Batu Pahat – tears welled in her eyes. These strongholds of safety and security were in a deplorable state and were clearly a cause for concern.

Before (first photo) and After (second photo) - OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad’s Batu Pahat Branch Senior Manager Ms Yap Ley Lin pointing to the poor condition of the school fencing before the upgrade and (second photo) her delight at what she saw after the upgrade. The message on the pillar, by the school, epitomises the relief of the teachers and students

So, along with her colleagues, she put together a plan to get the gates, fencing and walls repaired through a RM15,000 contribution from the Bank.

Today, the 28 students and teachers in the tiny, little noticed, village are breathing a sigh of relief for the more conducive and safe surroundings that now meet the required safety standards and guard against hazards.

According to Ms Kay Ley Teng, Principal of SJK(C) Chong Hwa Sungai Ayam, the upgrading of the school had always been at the back of the minds of the school’s management, but they could not do much due to the lack of funds.

Happy moments - Staff of OCBC Bank’s Batu Pahat branch along with their Senior Manager Ms Yap Ley Lin (front row, centre) and Ms Kay Ley Teng, Principal of SJK(C) Chong Hwa Sungai Ayam (to Ms Yap’s right, in white)

“We are grateful to OCBC Bank for coming to our aid in our hour of need as the conditions had become unbearable. When we approached the Bank, they could immediately grasp the extent of our plight and came forward without batting an eyelid. This is a blessing to us, knowing we are now able to conduct lessons more safely and without worrying about the students’ safety. It is all a lot more conducive now,” she said.

According to Ms Yap, the Bank engages with the communities it is involved in by venturing beyond its day-to-day business to engage with the social needs of the people as well.

“We are pleased to have helped the school in this little way. With this, we hope the students and teachers now have a positive learning experience, and that the students will go on to do well in life,” she said.

Following completion of the upgrading work, the OCBC Batu Pahat staff went a step further to teach the students financial literacy, in keeping with the Bank’s quest to ensure people of all ages understand the rudiments of managing money.

“I am pleased that my staff and I were also able to share our skills through the financial literacy session so they could better understand the subject for better financial management, especially considering how complex things can get in the current cyber age,” Ms Yap said.

She added that with more than 90 years of giving to communities, OCBC looks forward to enabling individuals, SMEs and businesses to build a more sustainable future.