By William Isau
SIBU, Jan 21: Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew has stepped in to help an underprivileged student at SMK Sacred Heart.
According to Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (SHOSA) vice president Anthony Chan, this was not the first time the senator responded quickly and positively to the association’s call for help.
“He has consistently stepped forth when it comes to the welfare of the students and the well-being of the school,” Chan said.
Before this, the senator had also contributed to numerous projects aimed at lending underprivileged students a helping hand.
“All of us at SHOSA are very proud and inspired by Senator Robert’s kindness,” Chan added.
Lau has stepped in to fully fund the academic financial needs of a 16-year-old student whose left leg had to be amputated because of bone cancer.
The funds would be used to pay for his school fees apart from miscellaneous expenses such as workbooks, stationery, and the like.
Lau also pre-paid the student’s food at the school canteen for the year.
When asked to comment on the matter, SHOSA president Yong King Sung said that ever since he became acquainted with Lau, a past president of the school alumni, the latter had kept the school’s ethos close to his heart.
“We were taught by the La Salle Brothers to always be there for the last, the lost, and the least, and Senator Robert being a former student of Sacred Heart, has never faltered in this matter,” Yong said.
Adding that the school was blessed to have many students like Lau, Yong hoped that current students would emulate the kindness and gratitude shown to the school by former students.
He said that countless former students had returned to help in so many ways through the years.
“We must all continue to pay it forward so that future generations of students will stand to benefit from this time-honoured tradition. Just as we are paying it forward today, from the benefits we received while we were in school, we look forward to current students paying it forward when they can, in the future,” he said.
The meeting luncheon hosted the student and his father to meet their benefactor today.
In a separate matter, Sacred Heart School will be celebrating its 120th anniversary this year with a gala dinner tentatively scheduled for November.
Former students have been urged to contact SHOSA for more details. — DayakDaily
