Students Receive Free Spectacles for Brighter Futures

27 October 2025

KOTA KINABALU: In a heartfelt effort to support underprivileged students in Tuaran, a collaborative initiative has successfully provided free eye care and spectacles to children from low-income families. The programme, undertaken by SME Bank in partnership with the Lions Club of Tuaran and supported by the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (MECD) Malaysia, aims to enhance both educational outcomes and overall well-being among the district’s youth.

The spectacles presentation was officiated by Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative. Also present during the event was Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.

Held at Dewan Bawing Tamparuli, the event saw parents, teachers, and children eagerly awaiting their spectacles, promising a brighter, clearer future for their learning.

The project a joint venture between SME Bank and the Lions Club of Tuaran, targeted 840 families across five local schools, including Sekolah Kebangsaan Pekan Tuaran, Sekolah Kebangsaan Laya Laya Tuaran, and several Chinese national schools such as Chen Sin, Chung Hwa Tamparuli, and Kok Hwa Tamparuli. A total of 100 students from B40 households have been selected to benefit from free eye screenings and customised spectacles.

Vianey Vercelly Peter

Vianey Vercelly Peter, the mother of 11-year-old Noel Leith Nathaniel, who attends SK Pekan Tuaran, expressed her gratitude to the organisers for hosting such a programme.

“I thank SME Bank and The Lions Club Tuaran for their support. It is very important for my son, as he can now see more clearly,” she said, adding that she also thanked the Minister for officiating in the function.

Sazrina Norsinin

Sazrina Norsinin, the mother of 12-year-old Nurqairina Azzalea Aziz, expressed her gratitude for the spectacles provided to her daughter. She stated that the glasses would enable Nurqairina to see more clearly and improve her ability to study effectively. Her daughter attends SK Pekan Tuaran.

Muhammad Hakimi Lester Abdullah

Father to two children , Muhammad Hakimi Lester Abdullah thanked the SME Bank  for the contribution, saying that they benefit his son 12-year old Mohammad Adryan and daughter Adeliana Hanifah 10 years old.

“I am very grateful to SME Bank and Lions Club as well as the Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick for all they contributed to those in need.”

Noelle Lovely

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Noelle Lovely, a student at SJK (C) Chen Sin, Tuaran, expressed her happiness upon receiving the spectacles, which she said help her see more clearly.

“I am very grateful and would like to thank SME Bank and the Lions Club,” she said, adding that she is determined to study hard and work diligently to achieve good results in her studies.

Tuaran remains home to many families living in semi-rural and rural areas. Despite ongoing development, a significant number of residents fall into the hardcore poor category, with over 600 households classified as such as of 2024. Many children from these families face barriers to accessing quality education, compounded by limited healthcare resources, including basic eye care.

The initiative seeks to address these challenges by providing essential eye care services, thereby improving students’ focus, classroom participation, and overall learning potential. SME Bank has contributed RM20,000 towards the programme, covering the costs of eye examinations, spectacles, and logistical arrangements for the handover ceremony and related activities.

This programme emphasises the importance of community collaboration, bringing together SME Bank, local NGOs, and education authorities to support the educational and health needs of vulnerable children. By equipping these students with proper vision correction, organisers hope to enable them to see clearly, learn confidently, and participate actively in their education and daily lives.