More than 12,000 undergraduates from Universiti Malaya have had a more comfortable transition back to on-campus learning, as a result of the #DIY4UM initiative jointly launched by MR. DIY Group (M) Berhad, Touch ‘n Go Group and Universiti Malaya.
The joint collaboration saw Malaysia’s home improvement retailer distributed over RM3.6 million to help undergraduates prepare for the return to campus.
“Our founder Tan Yu Yeh is an alumnus of this university, and over the years, has helped us initiate a number of different programmes to benefit the university, its students and the community it serves. His wish and our vision have been for these efforts to spur other organizations to help Malaysians forge through these challenging times,“ said MR. DIY chief executive officer Adrian Ong at a ceremony marking the conclusion of the #DIY4UM aid programme on Jan 20, 2022.
Ong said under #DIY4UM, each UM undergraduate received RM300 in cash aid, to be used for the purchase of everyday essentials and learning equipment. The funds were distributed through the Touch ‘n Go’ e-wallet in three equal payments over November and December 2021.
“We also know that one of the groups hardest hit by the pandemic has been university undergraduates. We realized that, as students started to return to campus post-pandemic, many needed help to ensure they were properly equipped with everyday essentials, learning materials, and personal protective items. To make the back-to-campus transition as smooth and worry-free as possible, we decided to launch the #DIY4UM initiative,” added Ong.
In addition to the contribution, the first 11,000 students who utilized the funds were entitled to a further RM10 cashback when they spent a minimum of RM20 using the Touch ‘n Go eWallet at MR. DIY Group stores, MR. DIY online at www.mrdiy.com.my as well as the MR. DIY mini programme available on Touch ‘n Go eWallet.
Touch ‘n Go Group chief executive officer Effendy Shahul Hamid said they have had entered into severalstrategic collaboration initiatives with MR. DIY and that it gratified them to see it expand to non-commercial areas.
“We are so pleased to be a part of this particular programme and I hope this motivates UM undergraduates to strive for further heights in their learning achievements,” he said.
Universiti Malaya’s vice-chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abd Syukor expressed thanks to the two iconic Malaysian brands for the donation.
“RM300 might be a small amount to some, but to our 12,000 undergraduates, it was a blessing.”
