Prime Minister Najib Razak today presented a RM972,900 contribution from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to help improve access to education for underprivileged schoolchildren in remote areas of Sarawak.

The contribution was presented by Najib, who is also 1MDB Board of Advisors chairman, at the meet-the-rakyat programme in Sungai Asap, Bintulu today.

The main bulk of the contribution was for the construction of nine 'rumah araus' costing RM900,000, comprising seven in Kapit and one each in Belaga and Lubok Antu, according to a statement from 1MDB today.

The 'rumah araus' is a halfway house located near a school where mothers and their pre-school children who live too far for daily commuting can seek temporary shelter during the school week.

Pre-schoolers are not eligible to stay at school hostels as they are considered too young to independently take care of themselves.

Underprivileged students

The remaining RM72,900 is given as aid to 150 underpriviledged students comprising 114 primary and 36 secondary schoolchildren.

Each primary student received RM450 each while secondary students received RM600 each.

The children receiving the aid constitute the third batch of schoolchildren to benefit from the 1MDB corporate social responsibility programme, in partnership with the Sarawak Education Department, said the statement.

The first batch of 20 underprivileged students from Kanowit received similar aid from Najib in February last year, followed by a second batch in July last year, comprising 100 children from the Long Banga and Bekenu areas.

Last year, four 'rumah araus' were built in Kapit, Belaga, Sebauh and Subis.

- Bernama