Yayasan Petronas spreads Lunar New Year cheer to families in Kudat, Labuan

KUDAT (Feb 14): For 76-year-old Chong Kong Sing, Chinese New Year has always been a time to gather with family, sharing simple meals and cherished moments at home.

This year, the celebration carried added meaning as he was among the recipients of a festive food pack under Yayasan Petronas’ Uplifting Lives Festive Programme.

“I’m very grateful for the assistance. To me, Chinese New Year is about being together as one family, dining together at home.

Today, we feel united as a community, even though we come from different families and backgrounds.

“Thank you to Petronas and the Sabah Social Welfare Department (JPKA),” said Chong, from Kampung Landung Ayang.

Chong was among 150 recipients in Kudat and Labuan who received festive food packs through Yayasan Petronas’ Uplifting Lives Festive Programme, an initiative aimed at helping more families welcome the Lunar New Year with greater meaning and joy.

For Chong Vui Ken, 72, from Kampung Pangaraban, the contribution makes the celebration more meaningful.

“I would like to thank JPKA and Petronas. This will help us celebrate Chinese New Year more specially,” he said.

Similarly, 70-year-old Chai Pin Kong from Taman Sri Kapor said the assistance arrived just as he was preparing to spend Chinese New Year quietly with his brother in Kudat.

“There would be no large gathering this year and it will just be the two of us sharing a simple meal and the comfort of each other’s company.

“The food items made it easier to prepare for the occasion, allowing us to welcome the festive season in their own modest way,” he said.

Through the programme, 100 families in Kudat and 50 families in Labuan received food packs containing essential staples and traditional Chinese New Year ingredients, helping to ease household expenses during the festive season.

The distribution in Kudat was carried out in collaboration with the JPKA as the implementation partner, while the Labuan distribution was executed in coordination with the Labuan Community Welfare Department.

Families also received cookies prepared by entrepreneurs under Yayasan Petronas’ Memperkasakan Kesejahteraan Rakyat programme, which focuses on income generation and capacity-building for local micro-entrepreneurs, in line with the Foundation’s commitment to promoting sustainable livelihoods.

General Manager of Petronas Sabah and Labuan Regional Office, Siti Ayu Abdul Wahab, said the initiative reflects the Foundation’s commitment to uplifting communities during significant moments of the year.

“Chinese New Year is a celebration of togetherness and harmony. Through our Uplifting Lives Festive Programme, we hope to bring joy to families during the festive season and reaffirm our commitment to uplifting lives and enhancing community well-being,” she said.

In Kudat, the food packs were handed over during a ceremony on February 11, while in Labuan, the distribution took place on February 13.

The Uplifting Lives Festive Programme forms part of Yayasan Petronas’ broader social impact agenda, which focuses on community well-being alongside initiatives in education and environmental sustainability.

Through these efforts, Petronas continues to strengthen community resilience and enable socio-economic progress across the nation.