Mr DIY helps UM undergrads
Published on: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Kota Kinabalu: More than 12,000 Universiti Malaya (UM) undergraduates benefitted from MR DIY’s #DIY4UM initiative.A joint collaboration between MR DIY Group (M) Berhad (MR DIY), Touch ‘n Go Group (Touch ‘n Go), and UM, #DIY4UM saw the home improvement retailer distributed over RM3.6 million to help the undergraduates prepare for the return to campus.
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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.
MR DIY Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adrian Ong said their founder Tan Yu Yeh, is a UM alumnus, and over the years, has helped them initiate a number of various programmes to benefit the university, its students and the community it serves.
“His wish, and our vision, has been for these efforts to spur other organisations to help Malaysians forge through these challenging times,” he said during a ceremony marking the conclusion of #DIY4UM, recently.
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“We also know that one of the groups hardest hit by the pandemic has been university undergraduates.
“We realised, as students started to return to campus post-pandemic, that many needed help to ensure they were properly equipped with everyday essentials, learning materials, and personal protective items.
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“To make the back-to-campus transition as smooth and worry-free as possible, we decided to launch the #DIY4UM initiative.”
In addition to the contribution, the first 11,000 students who utilised 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.
Ong also thanked the UM administrative team for ensuring eligible students registered for the aid programme.
Commenting on the aid programme, Touch ‘n Go Group CEO Effendy Shahul said they had multiple strategic collaboration initiatives with MR DIY and “it is gratifying to see it expands into 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.”
Welcoming the significant initiative by two Malaysian brands, Universiti Malaya Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Ir Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Syukor thanked MR DIY for its generous donation that has enabled students to purchase the essentials they need before starting the new semester.
“RM300 might be a small amount to some, but to our 12,000 undergraduates, it was truly a blessing.
“Touch ‘n Go’ made the claim process hassle-free for our students, and with the additional promotions, the assistance was very meaningful,” he said.
Applauding the initiative was Universiti Malaya Student’s Representative Wan Afiq Ikhwan Wan Alias, who said it was challenging for some of them to prepare for the new semester.
“The #DIY4UM assistance came at the right moment and lifted our burden. We are grateful for the help given by MR DIY as it helped us to buy what we needed for our education.
“The stressful part is over, now it is time for us to focus on our studies.”
The #DIY4UM initiative is one in a series of collaborations between MR DIY and UM.
One such initiative was the “DIY Made Simple” competition for secondary schools, run in collaboration with UM’s Community and Sustainability Centre (UMCares) to promote sustainability awareness among schoolchildren.
The retailer also previously partnered with the UM Medical Centre (UMMC) to create a multipurpose room for UMMC’s employees and students.
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