Kuala Lumpur, 27 January 2025: As part of its commitment to minimising the impact of disasters on students’ education, the Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO) has been working with Malaysian financial institutions to channel resources to schools nationwide that have been impacted by severe floods or storms.

Throughout the past year, FINCO has disbursed aid amounting to RM 273,904.50 to 13 schools, made possible by contributions from BNP Paribas Malaysia Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, Hong Leong Bank Berhad, MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd, OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad and Pacific Insurance Berhad.

In addition to financial aid, FINCO has also coordinated clean-up efforts with volunteers from AmBank (M) Berhad, Hong Leong Bank Berhad, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd and OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad to clean and repaint damaged furniture to ensure that students could return to an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.

“Prolonged disruptions to education can lead to increased dropout rates and long-term economic challenges for communities. Disasters like floods not only damage infrastructure but also disrupt the lives and futures of students. The continued collaborative efforts and contributions from the financial industry is an essential investment in the future of our school children,” said FINCO Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim.

In addition to aid disbursement and manpower assistance, FINCO has also put together a comprehensive resource on flood preparedness, complete with suggestions from schools and organisations which have successfully employed methods that minimise damage to classroom furniture and teaching materials. This resource is available for download on FINCO’s website (www.finco.my).

“Children need safety and stability in order to have a positive learning experience. Having uninterrupted access to learning, even in the face of crises, is crucial to avoid learning loss,” said FINCO CEO Clare Walker.

Among the schools that have received aid from January 2024 up until January 2025 are SK Kangka Tebrau and SMK Laksamana in Johor; SK Betong, SK Padang Kubu, SK Kuala Ping and SMK Sura in Terengganu; SK Mambang, SK Ulu Luit, SJKC Lembing, SRA Islam At-Taqwa, and Madrasah Tarbiah Islamiah in Pahang; SK Nanga Jambu in Sarawak; and SMK Banting in Selangor.

FINCO is currently working with more schools that were affected by the floods at the end of 2024 to ensure they receive the necessary assistance to hasten their recovery efforts. Schools that need financial aid or would like to request volunteers for clean-up efforts can reach out to FINCO at bit.ly/FINCOFloodRelief.