TAWAU: Joy was clearly visible on the faces of 150 students from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kuala Apas here after they were selected to shop for school supplies through the MYAirportCARES Back-to-School Programme with Malaysia Airports.
The students had the opportunity to purchase new supplies such as school uniforms, stationery, shoes, school bags and other related necessities.
SK Kuala Apas is one of the schools under the Malaysia Airports’ MADANI Adopted School programme. The students were entitled to the necessities, valued at RM400 per student.
In addition, bursary assistance totaling RM82,000 was also channeled to the entire 410 students for the purchase of books and sports attire.
Making the shopping session even more special at Bataras Hypermarket, Jalan Chong Thien Vun, was the presence of Malaysia Airports Managing Director, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, as well as Airport Managers from airports nationwide, who volunteered their time.
According to him, the programme is a proactive step by Malaysia Airports in implementing the MYAirportCARES Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiative to continue the company’s commitment to supporting communities around its airport network through two main programmes- the Back-to-School and the Educational Airport Tour.
Both programmes focus on students from needy families, providing learning-related assistance and exposure to the airport sector.
Meanwhile, 2025 marked a new achievement as both programmes were carried out in collaboration with schools under the MADANI Adopted School programme spearheaded by the Malaysian government, enabling assistance and educational exposure to be channeled more systematically to the most deserving communities.
“For the very first time, all airport managers from across the country came down as volunteers to engage with the students during the shopping activity,” he said, adding that the same programme will also be held in Penang.
For the Educational Airport Tour programme, students get the opportunity to visit airports, understand daily operations, and explore career potential within the airport management sector. First introduced in 2023, the programme has now been expanded to the community around STOLports.
He said that this year, students from SK and SMK Sungai Rawang in Sepang, as well as SK Lubok Nibong in Marudi, Sarawak, who are part of the Malaysia Airports’ MADANI Adopted School programme were also involved.
“On December 3, 2025, a total of 30 students and 16 teachers from SK Lubok Nibong participated in an educational visit to Miri Airport, which included sessions with the fire and rescue team, aviation security, terminal operations, customer experience, and facility tours,” he said.
Elaborating further, he mentioned that MYAirportCARES is their way of contributing to the future of the younger generation in communities surrounding the airport network.
He stated that from basic school assistance to exposure to the world of airport operations, the effort aims to create a better learning environment for students in need.
“This year, we are pleased to be able to collaborate with the MADANI Adopted School initiative to ensure our support is channelled to the most eligible groups.
“This is part of our long-term commitment to help build confidence, inspiration, and opportunities for students nationwide,” he added.
For the record, since its launch, the Back-to-School programme, which began in 2018, has benefited more than 4,500 students across Malaysia, while the Educational Airport Tour programme has benefited over 5,500 students since 2023.
Both programmes now serve as the main pillars of MYAirportCARES in supporting educational development and strengthening ties with communities near airports managed by Malaysia Airports.
