KOTA KINABALU: All primary schools in Sabah will be getting free school uniforms and white shoes of better quality beginning January.State Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said each pupil would be receiving two pairs of school uniforms and two pairs of white shoes. However, the material used for both products being thicker than previously.
Advertisement
There have been complaints from parents that they refused to let their daughters wear the uniforms provided by Kosan, including baju kurung, because they were so thin and almost see-through.
She said government primary schools, Chinese national-type schools and Islamic religious schools, irrespective of whether in urban or rural areas, would receive this aid.
"The free distribution of the essential items to pupils is proof that we have a caring government that is concerned about helping to lessen the financial burden of parents.
"Apart from this, the Government also distributes to each pupil a dozen exercise books and a dozen pencils, plus pens for Years 4 to 6," she told a press conference after receiving some sets of school uniforms from Kosan Deputy Chairman Datuk Alsat Idris at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, Friday.
She also commended Kosan for producing better quality school uniforms and shoes although the pricing for both items is the same. Also present was Kosan new General Manager Salmah binti Mohd Noor.
Jainab advised parents to be prudent when spending to buy their children's education materials so that their money could be used for other necessary items.
"With the current economy, parents must be smart and wise when planning for their children's school expenses.
"With the coming free distribution of uniforms and shoes, parents should just buy a set of the items and spend their money on other important items," she said.
By next year, Jainab assured that the distribution of these items would be done before the school holidays in December so that parents can better plan their school spending.
She also called on successful government linked companies (GLC) and private companies to come forward and discharge their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to help the government in providing free basic school items for pupils.
"I am also urging Petronas to discharge their CSR funds to the Ministry, so that not only pupils in primary schools could enjoy the free school uniforms and shoes but also secondary students.
"That is why my Ministry welcomes any GLC or companies that wishes to carry out their CSR duty to consider complementing the government efforts in providing the school items to all students in Sabah," she said.
The launch of the new quality school uniform by Kosan is the first step to the total rebranding and restructuring process of the co-operative, said its Deputy Chairman, Datuk Arshad Edris.
He said Chairman Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan has been determined in carrying out the State's halatuju initiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
"This is a proud and transformative moment for Kosan. We are confident we can finally meet the high expectation of our stakeholders because the State Government has been with us since day one," said Arshad.
He said Kosan had been on the verge of closure on many occasions for the past 30 years and that the State Government had expected Kosan to be financially independent.
To a question, Arshad said the chairman of Kosan was confident that newly appointed General Manager, Salmah Mohd Noor who has 20 years experience in corporate sector management could steer the co-operative to become a GLC that Sabah can be proud of.
"The challenges in the current business environment is daunting especially in the manufacturing and trading sectors. We are aware that there are no quick fixes and success might take between three and four years.
"The whole of Kosan should stand and support the General Manager because she has a turnaround plan for sustainability and growth for Kosan," he said.
_(1)_(1).%5B1%5D.png)
