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Community
IJM FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD “GIVE BACK” TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH IT OPERATES. THIS DICTUM HAS
BEEN CONSISTENTLY PRACTISED AND REFINED OVER THE YEARS. GUIDED BY ITS CR FRAMEWORK, IJM’S COMMUNITY
EFFORTS ARE CENTRED ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE.
Sports Development at Grassroots Level The Group focuses on sports at grassroots level as it considers sports to be an integral part of education and health development while contributing to national development. Focusing on rugby and gymnastics, IJM maintained a hands-on approach which yielded some level of success. Both the rugby and gymnastic events sponsored by IJM have many merits in common. An outstanding aspect is that they are organised entirely by volunteers comprising sports enthusiasts, supporters and families of the participants. They started as local events and as it grew in stature, attracted international teams and audiences, which is in line with to the Government’s call to promote sports tourism.  Rugby
IJM’s involvement in rugby began when it supported the Government’s ‘Rakan Muda’ initiative in the 90’s. The sponsorship of rugby development in Peninsular Malaysia is managed through a partnership with Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (“COBRA”), Malaysia’s most successful rugby club. The Plantation Division in Sabah also has a successful rugby development programme which is conducted in collaboration with the Sabah Rugby Union, Sandakan Rugby Club and Sabah Education Department. These collaborations have allowed IJM to embark on a national-level agenda that reaches out to all age groups and its successes can be assessed in two areas: grassroots development activities and international tournaments. a) Rugby Development Programmes The Group has associated itself with COBRA and its main sponsor for the schools programme, CIMB foundation, in an elaborate programme to lift the standard of rugby at the schools level. The first phase of the COBRA Schools Rugby Development Programme (2005 to 2007) focused on training teachers to become qualified rugby coaches and promoting the game amongst schoolboys. Phase two of the programme, launched in 2008, aimed at upgrading the skills of teacher-coaches while also grooming the next generation of world-class Malaysian rugby players. To date, the programme has trained 421 teachers as Rugby Level One Coaches. Of these, 22 teachers have progressed to Level Two Coaching. These Coaching programmes have been conducted by International Rugby Board (“IRB”) certified trainers from the Penguin Rugby Academy, United Kingdom. Since its inception, the programme with the involvement of the trained teachers has reached out to over 30,000 students from schools across Malaysia. The year round activities include amongst others, coaching courses for teachers, coaching clinics for students, rugby camps and an annual national and two international level tournaments. In Sabah, the Plantation Division’s rugby development programmes are carried out through the Academy of Rugby Excellence. Their key activities included various age-group tournaments held annually to develop sports excellence, discover young talents and nurture athletes for the benefit of the state and nation. Rugby, however, is not the sole sport sponsored by the Plantation Division. The Division also host a football tournament with the aim of encouraging solidarity amongst the plantation fraternity as well as the community in which it operates. The 13th edition of the IJM-Adidas Invitational Football Tournament held in August 2008 once again drew good support and fostered good camaraderie amongst the local teams. b) International Sporting Events IJM has continuously sponsored the COBRA Rugby 10s with a long-term aim of reviving the sport of rugby in Malaysia; by facilitating the display of world-class rugby to local fans as well as to improve the quality of rugby in Malaysia by participating alongside international teams. Malaysia’s biggest international rugby tournament has grown in stature and size, attracting some of the best club teams from rugby playing nations. With the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia as the tournament patron, the event is comprehensively supported by the Ministries of Youth and Sports; Information and Tourism. This is also a strategic step to support the development of rugby at schools by exposing students to a higher level of competition, and to inspire them to emulate the spirit of sportmanship and teamwork that is on display. Through the support of friends of IJM and COBRA, about 5,000 schoolboys were sponsored to witness the final day’s matches at the stadium. IJM Plantation sector's involvement in the sport of rugby in Sabah dates back to 2002, when it collaborated with Sabah Rugby Union to revive the interest for rugby in the State, through the introduction of an annual tournament - the Borneo-COBRA Invitational Rugby 10s. Initially mooted as a local tournament and a key feature in the Sandakan Festival, it has grown year on year to become an international event that attracts quality club teams from rugby playing nations. With IJM Plantations Berhad as the main sponsor, the tournament which is now in its eighth year is listed in the state and national calendar of sporting events. Gymnastics The achievements of the Serdang Rhythmic Angels Club in establishing a training centre within a short period greatly impressed IJM who consequently took on the role of the main sponsor in the biennial international inter-club rhythmic gymnastics competition. The competition provided an avenue for young gymnasts to compete at international level as well as a platform for coaches and judges to sharpen their coaching and judging skills, besides fostering ties with local and international clubs. Established in 1998, the gymnastics club which is based in Seri Kembangan and managed entirely by volunteers, won the inaugural “Best Performing Rhythmic Gymnastics Club” award from the Selangor Amateur Gymnastics Association in 2007. From an initial number of 12 gymnasts at the outset, the enrolment has increased manifold comprising different stages of development and age groups. Education IJM Scholarship  The Group has been offering scholarships to deserving
students for the past 14 years. IJM’s Scholarship
Programme is in line with the Company’s CR objectives
of making a meaningful contribution by providing
educational assistance to help develop and nurture bright,
young Malaysian talents into capable leaders of the future.
To date, more than 120 students have benefited from the
programme, many of whom have returned to work with
the Group. The 2008 scholarship presentation ceremony
held in August 2008, was officiated by the Honourable
Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam.
Successful scholars not only receive RM10,000 per annum,
but also the added advantage of having a mentor
identified from amongst IJM senior personnel, to guide
and counsel them during the course of their studies and
when they join the Group.
IJM also has an ongoing internship programme which provides IJM Scholars the opportunity to do industrial training with the Group as part of their course requirements. The IJM scholarship award covers fields of study such as Civil, Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical Engineering; Accounting; Housing, Building and Planning; Quantity Surveying; Applied Sciences; Economics; Business Administration; Materials Science and Geology. Career and Education Fairs IJM also participates in career and education fairs, the most prominent being the MYCareer & Education Fair held in May 2008. As a rule, the Group is responsive to requests from colleges and universities for site visits, invitations to career or technical talks, participation in studies or surveys conducted by students and sponsorships of events that offer exposure and support their intellectual and interpersonal development. Education Programme at the Plantations The Plantation Division has an established programme that provides basic education for the children of the workers and the surrounding community. There are seven kindergartens that reach out to children between the ages of five and ten years old. The Division has gone a step further by setting up a school in Desa Talisai South Estate in collaboration with the Humana Child Aid Society Sabah. Information about the programme can be found at (http://www.borneochildaid.org/). Social Welfare IJM’s vision to ensure that it makes a difference to the lives of the people it touches remains at the centre of its CR efforts. Maintaining continuous contact with the community is another core feature. Whilst CR efforts remain Division oriented, the common treads are evident in the nature of activities undertaken. At headquarters level, the Company continued its support of annual charity events like the Kuala Lumpur Rat Race 2008, whilst broadening its scope to respond to current issues and take on new challenges in keeping with its CR Framework. IJM donated towards the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund in February 2009 and also pledged its support towards the Penang State Government’s Partners Against Poverty (“PAP”) programme. The PAP Programme, launched in January 2009, gave the private sector the opportunity to exercise their corporate and social responsibilities by donating towards a special fund to eliminate hardcore poverty in Penang. The Property Division played an important role in driving the campaign.  Continuing the Group’s CR efforts, the Property Division also
worked with Majlis Kanser Nasional (“MAKNA”) in a fundraising
event entitled ‘Colours of Life Charity Walk 2008’ to
help poor cancer patients. The 3.5 km walk in Seremban 2,
Negeri Sembilan, was fully supported by the local residents
and IJM staff. IJM Land Berhad hosted a colourful fiesta all
day long, filled with fun activities and games for all ages.
IJMers showed their compassionate side and donated generously to collect RM187,283 for the daughter of their colleague, Chew Koon Chuan who needed extensive medical attention. Eight-year old Chew Cai Ying was diagnosed with Fanconi Anaemia, a blood disease which requires a Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant costing approximately RM160,000. The funds raised solely from within the IJM Group, is a reflection of the organisation’s culture of caring for the welfare of their staff and families. The Industry Division is committed to ensuring that basic infrastructure in the areas it operates are maintained for the benefit and safety of the local residents. IJM’s subsidiary Kuang Rock Products Sdn Bhd which has a quarry in the Bukit Lagong area embarked on a project to repair and upgrade the roads to provide better access for the neighbouring residents of Matang Jaya in Sungai Buloh. Continuing its efforts, the Division also relocated a spun pile factory, which was built adjacent to a village in the early 80s, from Bukit Tengah to the Prai Industrial Estate. In June 2008, the Industry Division’s Durabon factory jointly organised a ‘gotong-royong’ campaign with its neighbours in Kawasan Perindustrian Senai to clean up the locality for the benefit of the community. The Toll Division which includes the NPE, LEKAS and Besraya Highways, continues to play an important role in creating road safety awareness especially during the festive seasons. The Royal Malaysian Police, Road Safety Department (JKJR), Malaysian Highway Authority and the media have been supportive of the public road safety campaigns and publicity efforts to heighten the level of awareness and inculcate good road safety behaviour. In addition, there is also a continuous agenda to support the Government’s enforcement of national-level safety initiatives like the implementation of the new ruling that requires back-seat passengers to buckle-up. The Division’s annual advocacy campaign held in January 2009 was a resounding success, as it reached out to a greater audience. Given that studies have indicated that motorcyclists and pillion riders are most vulnerable to succumb to fatal injuries during road accidents, the campaign this year focused on educating the public on the proper use of safety helmets. Over 60 helmets were given away in exchange for those helmets which did not meet the standard SIRIM safety requirement. Child safety car seats were also presented to lucky motorists to increase awareness on the correct use of safety and booster seats. The Port Division’s CR activities touched the lives of school going and “special” children in Pahang. Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn Bhd’s activities calendar included donations to school-going children, contribution towards the setting-up of a reading corner to promote good reading habits amongst children, sponsoring a field trip to Johor for the “special” children of Seri Nilam Cahaya and donation of food essentials to childrens homes. Meanwhile, the Plantation Division continued to engage the surrounding community through public health awareness projects. A public forum on breast cancer and a demonstration on breast self-examination (“BSE”) was jointly organised with the Sandakan Breast Health Awareness Committee of The Duchess of Kent Hospital. The event which targeted students particularly school girls, aimed at publicising the need for BSE early amongst the younger genaration. The forum which attracted more than 400 students also educated participants on the nutritional properties and benefits of palm oil. |
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