- Carlsberg Malaysia’s Top Ten Charity Campaign marks 38 years, raising a cumulative RM600 million to support Chinese and vernacular education nationwide.
- The initiative has benefited over 700 schools, funding infrastructure upgrades, AI-powered smart classrooms, and improved learning environments across Malaysia.
- Top Ten extends impact beyond schools, supporting higher education, healthcare facilities, and environmental initiatives aligned with UN SDGs on education and climate action.
Launched originally as a humble fundraising event some thirty-eight years ago, the Top Ten Charity Campaign of Carlsberg Malaysia is now a country-wide movement to engage the combined efforts of Parent-Teacher Association committees, benefactors, and the general public in improving vernacular education. A cumulative RM600 million has been raised by the campaign since its establishment in 1987, including this year’s RM14.8 million, making it the longest-running and most significant movement for the development of Chinese education in Malaysia.
According to Pearl Lai, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director of Carlsberg Malaysia, a pivotal role has to be contributed by vernacular schools in molding a multicultural approach to the country’s education structure, and thus, it is a fact that many of them receive essential support in terms of facility upgradation through donations by well-wishers, which is a tradition continued by Top Ten for thirty-eight years now.
Top Ten has been a huge success as it has directly benefited over 700 schools in Peninsular Malaysia and the state of Sabah with improved facilities, smart classes powered by Artificial Intelligence, and infrastructure development for better learning environments for the students. The initiative extends beyond the financial support for the development of the education sector because the initiative brings people from different spheres of life, including parents and artists alike, with a common goal to provide a better future for the children.
"This initiative has allowed us to improve the school’s facilities and provide a better learning environment for the children, and this initiative is not only an initiative for fundraising but also for building a community", said Datuk Haw Chin Teck, Chairman of the best fundraising school for the year, SJKC Chung Hwa Sungai Sendok in Johor.
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The ripple-effect effect caused by the campaign’s influence can be seen through campaigns like that for Lahad Datu Middle School, which, over a period of three years, accumulated a total amount of RM6 million via Top Ten School Campaign to upgrade a single-story school by adding labs, offices, a dancing room, as well as a cooking room. According to its Permanent Honorary Chairman, Mr. Tan Cheng Teng, these improvements will bring a drastic change to both classrooms and activity rooms.
Recently, Top Ten has also been providing support to institutions of higher learning, including the UTAR Hospital, contributing to the upgraded teaching facilities, medical equipment, and patient care. The President of UTAR, Yang Berbahagia Ir. Professor Dato’ Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, has expressed his appreciation regarding the support that has beneficially impacted the lives of many, including the students, at Carlsberg Malaysia.
Besides education, Top Ten promotes environmental stewardship through the Go Green project in which nine schools are involved. The students produced over 228 liters of eco-enzymes and 538kg of eco-bricks, learning by doing. Pearl Lai added that education and environment are closely linked: At Top Ten, what matters most is nurturing the next generation and inspiring them to make a difference in this world, and to help create a brighter and greener Malaysia.
This mark is a continued affirmation of Carlsberg Malaysia’s dedication to education, community development, and sustainability. With the 'Together Towards ZERO and Beyond' initiative, the brewer is still committed to working towards goals that are in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 13: Climate Action.
