Homegrown retailer MR D.I.Y. announced that it will be distributing RM300 each to 15,000 University Malaya (UM) undergraduates to help them purchase essential supplies to facilitate their return to campus this October.
The RM4.5 million cash aid distribution programme dubbed #DIY4UM is being implemented in partnership with Touch ‘n Go via its eWallet platform.
MR D.I.Y. chief executive officer Adrian Ong said the programme was aimed at helping students make the back-to-campus transition as smooth and worry-free as possible.
“The reopening of campuses is a major milestone for university students. After many months of lockdown, they will finally be able to reconvene on campus to fully benefit from the in-person learning experience and enjoy the academic social interaction with lecturers and fellow students alike.
“We believe it’s important that they are well equipped with protective and learning essentials to keep themselves safe while staying focused on their studies, which is why we are distributing this cash aid to undergraduates at University Malaya,” he said.
The cash aid will be made to students on their Touch ‘n Go eWallets in three equal payments of RM100 each on 1st and 30th November, and 30th December.
Touch ‘n Go group chief executive officer Effendy Shahul Hamid said the programme has been made possible by the extended strategic collaboration between MR D.I.Y. and Touch ‘n Go which was inked in July this year.
“We are extremely pleased that the partnership between our companies has been extended into a benefit for society, in this case, students of University Malaya. We stand ready to support this initiative and we commend MR D.I.Y. for stepping up during these challenging times,” he said.
All active Malaysian undergraduates at University Malaya are eligible for the aid. They are required to register online via Portal Maya UM by Oct 3, 2021 and have a valid Touch ‘n Go eWallet account.
Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abd Syukor welcomed the programme as a significant initiative by two iconic Malaysian brands.
“On behalf of our undergraduates, we thank MR D.I.Y. for the generous contribution, and Touch ‘n Go for making it convenient for students to receive and utilize the funds. We are confident this initiative will be of great help to students as they return to campus,” he said.
The #DIY4UM initiative is the latest in a series of collaborations between MR D.I.Y and University Malaysia. The company has joined hands with UM and the Ministry of Education for the past four years to organize the “DIY Made Simple” competition for schools with UM’s Community and Sustainability Center (UMCares). The competition is a CSR initiative to cultivate awareness of sustainability among schoolchildren.
