STUDENTS, teachers and staff from various schools in Perak have collected a total of RM75, 694.55 between Sept 1 and Oct 1 for the Yayasan Kebajikan Athlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) which provides assistance to former athletes who had made the state and country proud.

Among the donors are district education offices in Kinta Utara, Selatan, Kerian, Manjung, Batang Padang, Kuala Kangsar, Hulu Perak, Hilir Perak, Larut, Matang and Selama, Perak Tengah and the state education department.

The collection was handed over by Perak Education Department deputy director Muhamat Roli Hassan to Yakeb general manager Md Razib Md Shah at a ceremony at the department’s monthly assembly in Ipoh yesterday.

Muhamat Roli said: “More donations are still coming in and we will hand it all over to Yakeb at an appropriate time.”

Md Razib noted that the Perak Education Department is the first education department in the country to present the collection to YAKEB.

Also present were former international rugby player Choo Ah Chye and body builder Malek Noor.

Ah Chye, who was a former teacher at SMK Kebangsaan St Micheal, Ipoh, was also presented with a souvenir for his contribution to rugby.

Malek said “It is a good move to assist former sports personalities who are in dire need of financial assistance and the amount collected by the department is something to be proud of.”

The nationwide collection is carried out under the ‘1Ringgit 1Malaysia’ campaign by Yakeb.

Donations and sponsorships should be channeled to Yayasan Kebangsaan Atlet Kebangsaan – Tabung Yakeb, Maybank Account no: 564847005696 or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, YAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs 50 sen. For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or visit www.yakeb.org.my.

New Straits Times – Wednesday, October 28, 2009