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KLANG – Malaysian football legend Datuk Santokh Singh joined corporate and community partners in supporting the SMK Bario classroom expansion project in Sarawak through the Legends United for SMK Bario CSR initiative, which aims to empower indigenous youths through education and sports.
Organised by Acmar Group in collaboration with Justice of Peace (JP) Selangor and the Football Association of Selangor (FAS), the football-themed initiative brought together representatives from the corporate, sports and community sectors to raise awareness and support for improving learning facilities at SMK Bario, which serves the Kelabit and Penan communities in the Bario Highlands.
Held on July 20 at T Cafe, Wyndham Acmar Klang Hotel, the event featured the symbolic handover of a framed jersey signed by Santokh as a gesture of support for the education-focused project.
The classroom expansion initiative, originally started by Projek57, is now supported through Acmar Group’s CSR efforts in partnership with JP Selangor and FAS, with funds raised channelled to Projek57 to ensure transparent management of the project.
Acmar Group Deputy Group chief executive officer Adrian Tee said education remained a key foundation in creating opportunities for underserved communities.
“Education is the foundation of empowerment. By uniting football legends, corporate partners, and state institutions, we are building hope for the Bario Highlands youth,” he said.
The initiative aims to address challenges faced by SMK Bario students, particularly Form 4 and Form 5 students who have experienced limited classroom facilities due to infrastructure constraints.
Located in the remote highlands of Sarawak, SMK Bario provides education access for indigenous Kelabit and Penan youths. The classroom expansion project seeks to create safer, more dignified and better-equipped learning spaces to support students’ academic development.
Santokh, one of Malaysia’s most respected football figures, said the values learnt through football could be extended beyond the pitch to support communities.
“Football taught us unity and resilience. Now, we bring that same spirit to support education in Bario,” he mentioned.
Beyond its CSR initiative, the event also marked a new strategic partnership between Acmar Marketing Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Acmar Group and Zajas Sdn Bhd through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The partnership aims to strengthen both parties’ commitment towards advancing the halal ecosystem in Malaysia and China, guided by principles of equality, reciprocity and transparency.
The signing was officiated by Adrian and Datuk Zainal Abidin Jaffar of Zajas Sdn Bhd, marking another milestone in Acmar Group’s efforts towards community development and social impact initiatives.
Through the Legends United for SMK Bario initiative, Acmar Group said it hopes to demonstrate how football can serve as a platform to strengthen unity while creating meaningful educational opportunities for future generations.
