In line with its aspiration to be Asia’s leading financial services partner for a sustainable future, 135 staff of OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank) recently helped to restore 44-year-old Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan through more than RM180,000 raised from among themselves.  

The staff from the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer’s (COO’s) Division and Reporting Management Office from across the country, together with their counterparts from the Singapore and Hong Kong offices, converged at the school grounds to get the job done.

Through their rejuvenation efforts, over 735 students at SK Bukit Sekilau can now study in a more conducive learning environment. The community development initiative encompassed various activities, including painting the entire exterior of the school building, the window frames, and the surrounding stone fence. The programme also involved replacing and painting classroom doors that were broken or damaged, constructing a new covered walkway from Block C to the computer lab, addressing the problem of leaking roofs and ceilings, and painting the pavilion's ceiling. Additionally, repairs were carried out on the cracked and broken pavilion seats, as well as the surrounding walkways.

Encik Mohd Ramli bin Deris, the principal of SK Bukit Sekilau, expressed his gratitude to OCBC Bank for their historic visit to the school.

“It is the first time we are receiving assistance from an external party. This is made more special knowing the assistance has come from a renowned institution and part of the region’s second largest financial services group. The bank's commitment to investing significantly in improving the school's atmosphere and providing donations to 100 B40 students is greatly appreciated by the entire school community,” he said.

Encik Mohd Ramli further explained that the school, in collaboration with the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG), previously had plans to paint its own building. However, due to financial constraints, this effort had been temporarily halted.

OCBC Bank supplied and installed a water cooler, 300 plastic chairs, and three sets of stone tables with umbrellas. They also provided flowerpots and planted trees in the herb garden at the classroom for the special students. The Bank staff also added a touch of aesthetic creativity by painting murals on the school walls, featuring words of encouragement.

In addition to the renovation work, the OCBC Bank staff conducted a fraud awareness session and cyber security session for students and teachers so they can safeguard themselves against being scammed and can protect themselves online.

Muhamad Naufal bin Mohd Nor, a student from Class 6 Al Farabi, said he is happy to come to school every day, as the school now looks more cheerful and beautiful. His friend, Muhamad Hafiuddin bin Abdullah, shared similar sentiments, noting that the school's condition has significantly improved, and he is delighted to sit on his new chair.

Puan Nor Afizan binti Muda, the senior assistant teacher in charge of student affairs, expressed her excitement and eagerness to work in the newly improved school environment where all the facilities have now been repaired and revitalised.

“The school community extends our heartfelt thanks to OCBC Bank for their noble community development efforts. We greatly appreciated the bank's contributions in uplifting the school's spirit and repairing its facilities and hope that such endeavours will continue in the future, benefitting more students and enhancing the learning environment,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of OCBC Bank, COO Ms Chong Lee Ying said the Bank engages with communities it is involved in by venturing beyond its banking products and services to meet the social needs of the people as well.

“Our ultimate aim is to assist the school and provide a more conducive learning environment for the school. I am glad that more than a hundred of my colleagues were able to gather together to make this happen. I am also pleased that my colleagues and I were able to share our skills in financial literacy session and online scam awareness so the students and parents could better understand the subject for better financial management and to combat online scams,” she said.