By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 8: Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), through its Books Build Legacy initiative, has partnered with DayakDaily and The Hills Shopping Mall to collect 2,000 books for rural schools in Sarawak as part of BESarawak’s role as the official community outreach partner of the Borneo Pickleball International Tournament (BPIT).
Organised by Kuching Pickleball Association (KPA), BPIT is set to be the largest pickleball tournament in Malaysia and Borneo.
It will take place from Oct 8 to 14 at PIKABOL, Asia’s largest pickleball complex at the former Kuching plywood factory in Pending.
BESarawak chief executive officer Amelia Roziman emphasised that the Books Build Legacy at BPIT 2024 aims to collect 2,000 books throughout the tournament period, which will be donated to rural schools in Sarawak.
“Books Build Legacy is a statewide business events corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and we have been collaborating with many events such as conventions, exhibitions, corporate meetings and incentives.
“We have collaborated with non-BE organisations like Gawai Dayak Kaamatan, DayakDaily, rural schools, and more, as we believe in giving back to the community regardless of the industry,” she said.
She made these remarks during a press conference by Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to announce sponsors and official partners of BPIT at the Ministry’s Office in Baitulmakmur Building in Petra Jaya today.
Expressing hope to see more organisations and corporations step up to help build other sectors, Amelia highlighted that BESarawak’s role beyond securing business as they aim to grow and sustain the industry and for the industry to contribute to Sarawak’s development.
“We are about community engagement, whether it’s association community or civic community, and advising KPA is our contribution to the association community.
“Thank you to KPA for choosing Books Build Legacy as the community outreach programme,” she said.
Meanwhile, DayakDaily has collaborated with BESarawak under its Books Build Legacy initiative on several occassions.
This year, they collaborated for the annual D’Drift trip, where a three-member team set out to uncover hidden tourism gems and interesting stories across Sarawak.
During the trip in March this year, DayakDaily transported 1,340 secondhand books and three boxes of soft toys and toys to the community library known as ‘Reading Corner’ at Long Latei Penan Service Centre in Ulu Baram.
In 2022, DayakDaily launched its inaugural secondhand book collection campaign and successfully delivered over 1,000 books to SK Lusong Laku for Penan children.
In August 2023, DayakDaily handed over 1,000 storybooks and two big bags of soft toys to the Orang Ulu community in Ulu Belaga. — DayakDaily
